Prepare Your Backyard For Summer
by Lori Marques and Lisa Carter
The painful screams of a child can bring
any picnic or barbecue to a screeching halt. More than 11,400 children under
the age 14 are injured every year from burns and fires says Ron Bistolfo,
Director of Education at the American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter in San
Francisco, California.
Barbecues can be an overlooked burn threat to our children and is one of
the many hazards lurking in our backyards. As we put away our winter coats
and pull out the summer bonnets parents and caregivers need to prepare the
backyard for little ones. Some preplanning and common sense can go a long
way in preventing injury to your child. Here's how you can help:
Survey the Yard
Before letting your child outside to play take a survey of the yard. Is the
fence still secure? After a harsh winter boards may have come loose or been
blown out. Is all yard cleaning and trimming equipment safely stored and
out of reach of small children? Children love to model their parents and
mow the lawn. Shears and lawnmower blades can cause serious injury. Even
rakes and shovels can hurt if the handles fall on a little one's head.
Poisonous Plants
After the wet season plant and weed growth is rampant. Check for mushrooms
and remove them immediately. Wild mushrooms have been known to cause serious
illness, even death. Another common backyard plant is the oleander, these
too are poisonous. Teaching your children not to eat plants, dirt or anything
that you have not given him will add a layer of protection. Check with your
local poison control for a complete list of outdoor poisonous outdoor
plants.
Pets
If you have pets be sure all droppings are cleaned up from the lawn area.
Kids have a way of finding interest in the ickiest things. You don't want
to end the fun playtime to put your child in the bath after they've found
an unpleasant remain. Also, keep sandboxes covered so cats do use them as
a litter box.
Playground Equipment Hazards
According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission an estimated 51,000
children are treated in US hospital emergency rooms for backyard playground
equipment-related injuries. About 15 children die each year as the result
of playground equipment incidents. Most injuries are the result of falls.
Be sure that your playground equipment is in good condition. Check for sharp
edges or hot surfaces, that it's still secured in the ground, and has protective
covering under it that is thick enough and wide enough to prevent injury
should a child fall. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has a wide range
of recommendations based on the height of the equipment and the type of
protective layering you're using. You can get complete details in the CPSC's
Handbook for Public Playground Safety. To obtain a copy send a postcard with
your name and address (organization address, if appropriate) to US Consumer
Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC 20207 or visit their web site at
www.cpsc.gov.
Other playground equipment hazards which can cause strangulation include
ropes, hats, and strings on clothing. Don't allow your child to tie ropes
to playground equipment or around them. Remove hats and clothing with strings
when your child is playing on gym equipment. Long strings should be removed
from clothing entirely.
"Kids go into the world with no intent, they're just exploring," says Bistolfo,
"parents need to protect them and teach them to protect themselves." Safety
is an ongoing process. As parents and caregivers we are constantly challenged
to stay ahead of our childrens' developmental abilities. Following these
tips will surely help your child's summer memories be about playing in the
yard not, not crying in the emergency room.
About the Author:
Lori Marques and Lisa Carter are moms and authors of Paranoid Sisters' Child
Safety Made Easy (Screamin' Mimi Publications, $6.95). They reside in the
San Francisco-Bay Area and have six children between them.
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The painful screams of a child can bring
any picnic or barbecue to a screeching halt. More than 11,400 children under
the age 14 are injured every year from burns and fires says Ron Bistolfo,
Director of Education at the American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter in San
Francisco, California.
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