Children of varying ages would happily spend many an hour in their backyard. Despite serving as a private space to enjoy in comfort, your garden might feature various safety issues that could pose a risk to your kids’ well-being.
Prevent accidents and injuries in your home. Read these five must-read garden safety tips for your family.
- Eliminate Outdoor Clutter
Clutter can pose a health hazard for people of all ages, as it might cause a person to trip, fall, or sustain an injury. Avoid unnecessary injuries by eliminating all clutter from your garden, even if it is minimal.
For example, remove loose garden tools, tidy away children’s outdoor toys, and identify and banish potential trip hazards, such as loose or raised paving. It will lower your stress levels when your kids play outside while creating a more aesthetically pleasing exterior.
- Protect Kids by the Pool
If you have a family pool, you likely are eager to improve your children’s safety in and around a pool. Create a safer space by installing glass pool fences from US Glass Fence, which will improve the visibility of your kids in your garden. As glass is transparent, you’ll have a clear view of your children when supervising from a distance. Also, the zero footholds will prevent your kids from attempting to climb the panels to reach a pool unsupervised.
- Lock Your Garden Shed
Children love to explore and hide, and they might not think twice about stepping inside your garden shed. As it is often home to dangerous chemicals, sharp tools, and heavy equipment, it could pose a serious threat to their safety. Keep your kids safe by installing a strong lock on your shed, and invest in a playhouse to provide a spot to explore or play hide and seek.
- Shield the BBQ
If you often love to fire up a BBQ when the sun starts to shine, you must stop your children from standing near the hot flames and sharp instruments. For example, you could fence off the BBQ area to ensure they’re safe outdoors. It will allow you to focus your attention on the grill while your kids have fun in the garden.
- Remove Toxic Plants
Some plants in your garden might be toxic to humans and pets. Adults are unlikely to place plant leaves in their mouths, but children are inquisitive by nature and might feel tempted to do so.
Remove or fence off toxic plants from your children’s reach. Toxic garden plants can include:
- Hemlock
- Fox glove
- Lily of the Valley
- Monkshood
- Oleander
- Nightshade
- Larkspur
- Tobacco
- Rhubarb
- Rose Campion
A pretty garden shouldn’t come at the price of your family’s safety. Identify and remove potentially poisonous plants and replace them with safer alternatives, such as allium, lamb’s-ear, or sunflowers, to name a few options.
If you follow the above top tips, you could create a safe, secure space that will minimize your worries while allowing your children to play under the summer sun.
