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Safety and Interesting Things
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Real Life Stories
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Yard Hazards
Your child will probably
spend a significant amount of time in the yard. Supervision for young
children playing in a yard is very important. If possible, your yard should
be fenced. Many of the hazards in a yard result from poor yard maintenance.
Young children especially will try to put anything they find into their
mouths. Take a good look around, and put away or fix any hazards you find.
- Fences are a great
idea to help keep your children in the yard, and other children and
animals out. They can be a great assistance in helping to prevent children
from gaining access to the street. But you have to remember that children
can climb fences. Children can also open gates, so there is no guarantee
that your children will not leave a fenced yard.
- Identify the types
of plants you have in the yard to determine if they are poisonous. Once
you know what they are, you can call the Poison Control Center in your
area to see if they are in fact poisonous (see Poisoning, Chapter
Four).
- Don’t allow your
children to play in areas where you have just used horticultural sprays
or powders. Some lawn and garden products are highly toxic, with toddlers
and pets at highest risk during their frolics in the grass. Read and
heed the manufacturer’s warnings concerning fertilizers, insecticides,
and weed killers.
- Cut sharp branches
which are at eye level or lower. Eyes have been poked out when children
have run into such hazards.
- Clean up pet droppings
as soon as possible. Cover your sandbox. You don’t want your children
digging up the neighborhood cat feces.
- Clean up cigarette
butts. They are not healthy for children or anyone else.
- Make garbage cans
inaccessible; they not only cause odor but they also harbor bacteria.
- Make sure nails,
screws, and other sharp objects are picked up. This could prevent a
trip to the hospital for your child or yourself.
- Take a good look
at your deck to see if there are places where small heads could become
entrapped.
- If you have a wood
pile, be sure it is stable and won’t fall down on a child. Children
sometimes find these piles fascinating places to play.
- Make sure that
neither bees nor wasps are building a nest in the wood pile or anywhere
else in your yard. Fatalities have resulted when children and adults
have unintentionally stumbled upon a wasp nest.
- If you have a backyard
fire pit, make sure your children and other children visiting respect
fire and stay clear of the fire pit.
- When barbecues
are in use, they are hot! Make sure your children will not be able to
come into contact with a barbecue in use. Keep them at a safe distance.
- More than two-thirds
of the children injured by lawn mowers were bystanders; more than three-quarters
of those hurt required amputation (mostly toes and feet), according
to the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society.
- Lawn mowers can
pick up and throw stones, nails, pieces of wire, or other debris at
a very high rate of speed. Keep your children away from the danger by
keeping them away from the lawn mower until they are old enough to understand
how dangerous it can be.
- Similar dangers
to those encountered with lawn mowers are present when you are using
hedge trimmers and snow-blowers. Keep children and all bystanders well
away from flying debris.
- Falls from trees
are a common injury in back yards. Unintentional hangings can also happen.
Do not let children play with ropes around trees.
Copyright 1995 Safety
Health Publishing Inc.
Martin Lesperance
is a fire fighter / paramedic and best selling author of the book "Kids
for Keeps: Preventing Injuries to Children". Martin speaks across
North America on the topic of injury prevention. His talks are humorous,
but still have a strong underlying safety message. For more information,
call him at (403) 225 – 2011 or visit his website at www.safete.com.
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TO CONTACT MARTIN:
Martin Lesperance
Ph: (403) 225 - 2011
or 1-888-278-8964
Fax:(403)225-3215
martin@safete.com
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