Many people believe that as long as their children and pets are in the yard, they are safe. However, many kids end up in an emergency room for playground injuries, and a National Playground Study conducted from 2001 to 2008 showed that 19 percent of ER visits occurred in a home playground for children under 12.
So, before you let the kids run free in the backyard, you’ll need to inspect your outdoor equipment for potential hazards.
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Swimming Pools
The CDC reports that every day, about 10 people die from unintentional drownings, and two are children aged 14 or younger.
To minimize swimming pool hazards, do the following:
- Teach your children to swim as early as possible.
- Not all animals know how to swim, so keep your pets out of the pool.
- Learn the signs of both drowning and “dry drowning.”
- Maximize your pool safety outlook by taking a class in CPR and keeping 911 on speed dial.
- Use pool safety devices when the pool is not in use, such as a pool alarm, cover or net, and portable pool fencing.
- Don’t rely on child floatation devices to prevent drowning.
The easiest way to reduce the chances of a pool accident is to construct a fence around the perimeter of your pool. The cost of installing a fence will depend on where you’re located, the materials used, and size of the fence (adding a gate will cost extra). Visit Angi to find fence companies near you and read over customer testimonials.
Trampolines
In 2014, the Consumer Product Safety Commission found that there were nearly “286,000 medically treated trampoline injuries.” Kids can get injured when trampolines are not properly installed, not on level ground, or too close to hazardous objects.
To safeguard your family and pets from these injuries, follow these guidelines:
- Carefully construct the trampoline as directed, using all of its parts and placing it on a level patch of ground. Make sure you stretch the canvas equally and not just on one side at a time; this helps ensure it’s even.
- Purchase a trampoline that can hold the weight of all the people you expect to use it, including adults.
- The Mayo Clinic recommends that no one under the age of 6 should use a trampoline.
- Never let your pet on the trampoline or leash him to it.
- Prohibit “stunt” jumps and supervise older children.
- Purchase a trampoline with netting to keep everyone safe.
- Regularly inspect the trampoline for tears, movement, misalignment and rusted screws.
Swing and Slide Playsets
Swing and slide sets can cause head injuries and broken bones if proper care is not taken. Here are the precautions you need to take with a swing set:
- Use only the pieces that belong with the set. (Do not add extra pieces.) If purchasing a used swing set, inspect it thoroughly for rust, damage, missing pieces and wasp nests.
- Position the set so that there is no interference with trees, decks or other backyard items that can interrupt play. Make sure to use padding under the set for children to safely land on once they slide.
- You should position the swings so that they cannot bump into each other or people walking by.
- Never leash your pet to the swing set or put him on the slide or swings.
Careful planning, safety protocols and proper supervision of your children and pets can help your family avoid a trip to the ER and ensure that all of you have outdoor fun.