It's a Jungle Out There—Preparing Your Backyard For Summer Play
by Lori Marques
Part
1
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
pre-planning 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 be missing.) 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 lawn mower 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 them will
add a layer of protection. Check with your
local poison control for a complete list
of 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. See
that equipment is still secured in the
ground and that it has protective covering
under it. Covering needs to be 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're
constantly challenged to stay ahead of our
children's developmental abilities.
Following these tips will surely help your
child's Summer memories be about playing
in the yard, not crying in the emergency
room.
Link to Part 2
Lori Marques and
Lisa Carter are moms and authors of
Paranoid Sisters and Child Safety Made Easy (Screamin Mimi Publications,
$6.95). Learn more safety tips by visiting
their web site.
E-mail: smimipub@pacbell.net.
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