Backyard Safety for Kids

Ways to Prevent Outdoor Injuries to Children

Feb 12, 2008 Charlina Stewart

When kids spend more time in the backyard, parents grow increasingly concerned about their safety. Learn ways to prevent injuries to children during outdoor play.

During the spring and summer months children spend more time in the backyard, and injuries from falls, outdoor poisons, bug bites, rickety play structures, and swimming pools become more frequent. While parents can't prevent every outdoor accident, there are a number of things they can do to improve backyard safety, and reduce the risk of outdoor injuries to children.

Prevent Accidental Drownings in Back Yard Swimming Pools

• Use a self-closing and self-latching gate that opens outward around perimeter of your swimming pool.
• Supervise children closely when they are engaged in activities in or around a swimming pool.
• Empty wading pools and turn them over after each use to prevent them from filling with rainwater and causing potential drowning hazards.
• Enforce rules such as no running or horseplay around the pool area.

Prevent Accidental Poisonings in the Backyard

• Bug spray, antifreeze, lawn products, gasoline or anything that contains chemicals should be locked in a place that's inaccessible to children.
• Children love to pick flowers, explore and taste things, so check existing backyard plants to make sure that they don't contain poisonous parts. If you are planning to add new plants to your yard, make certain that they are not hazardous to children.

Prevent Falls in the Backyard

• Keep steps, sidewalks, and patios in good repair.
• Don’t leave unraveled hose pipes in the yard - always wind them up so that children will not accidentally trip over them.
• Always provide secure hand rails so that children can maneuver safely up and down the steps.
• Never leave ladders propped against the side of the house, always store them out of the reach of children.
• Make sure the backyard is free of sharp objects, debris, fallen tree branches, and exposed tree roots.

Prevent Bug Bites in the Backyard

• Remove all standing water to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.
• Use child-friendly bug repellent to repel mosquitoes as well as other biting insects.
• Bring children inside before dusk when insects are the worst.
• If kids live in heavily wooded areas where ticks are common, dress them in long pants, shirts with long sleeves, and socks.
• Keep the grass in your backyard mowed.
• Check the backyard for ant hills and bee hives.

Prevent Injuries From Backyard Play Equipment

• Check play equipment for jagged edges, rust, and loose or broken parts.
• Use soft material such as rubber, sand, or mulch under equipment to soften the blow of a possible fall.
• Teach children proper ways to use play equipment.
• Anchor play equipment in the ground properly.
• Don't let children wear loose clothes, hoods, or drawstrings on swing sets, and climbing structures. This increases the risk of strangulation.

Other Backyard Safety Tips

• Store lawn and gardening equipment out of the reach of children
• Serious burns can occur from barbeque grills when they are in use. Keep children away from them until they are completely cooled.
• Surround the perimeter of the backyard with a fence that is in good repair to prevent small children from wandering off.
• Check the yard for hazards such as, animal feces, broken glass, garbage and metal.

Remember that the best way to prevent backyard injuries to children is to provide them with constant adult supervision.

References:

Home Safety Council. Backyard Safety Tips. Accessed 2/9/08

Keepkidshealthy.com. Backyard Pool Safety. Accessed 2/9/08

Web MD. Make Your Backyard Safe. Accessed 2/10/08

The copyright of the article Backyard Safety for Kids in Early Childhood is owned by Charlina Stewart. Permission to republish Backyard Safety for Kids in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Keep Your Backyard Safe for Kids