Tips on how to keep your backyard safe this summer
With summer in full swing, we are sure your weekends are filled with BBQ’s, pool parties and lots of backyard soirées. And let’s be honest, after a seamlessly never-ending cold winter we deserve the long, warm days that summer brings. But we can’t be naïve to the fact that while backyards can be a fun play area, they can also present some dangers to your family and visitors if the right precautions are not in place. In today’s blog post we are going to be talking about a few simple ways to keep your pool, playset and trampoline safe in hopes to avoid any accidents and keep your summer bashes going all night long!
The first topic we are going to touch on is pool safety. As a home and pool owner, it is so imperative that you take the necessary steps in order to keep everyone safe, as the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) reported there are 10 unintentional drowning deaths each day. How can you keep your pool safe this summer? The first and most important step is to create a barrier around the pool with a fence, ideally with self-closing gates and locks. This will ensure that children can’t wander into the pool area unattended and help to keep your family and friends safe from the water. If you want to take things a step further, try looking into extra layers of protection and incorporating things such as alarms and safety covers to secure the pool when no one is using it.
Next, when it comes to playgrounds and swing sets, you want to be sure to be maintaining the equipment regularly. Things to keep an eye out for include protruding or rusted bolts, broken ropes, cracked slides and/or swings and open hooks. And to prevent injury and insulate falls, playgrounds should be installed on things such as tiles, rubber mulch or any other soft surface. And as always, adult supervision is highly recommended when children are playing on swings and playsets outdoors. And lastly, when it comes to trampoline safety, you want to be sure to have pads and netting around to prevent jumpers from falling off. It is also important to regularly inspect your trampoline and look for missing parts, rust and tears, and try to not have too many people on at once. And as stated above, it is always important to supervise children while they are enjoying the long days of summer outside on the trampoline.