Backyard Safety

Playing outside is a great way for kids to exercise and have fun. However, backyards can be full of potential dangers. Parents should take steps to make sure their yards are safe for kids to enjoy.

Pools and Hot Tubs

• More than 1,000 children die from drowning every year.
• More than half of the drownings could be prevented if parents put up a 4-sided fence around the pool. The fence should be at least 4 feet high and have a gate that closes and latches on its own.
• Hot tubs should be covered with a hard cover and locked when not in use.
• Parents should set and enforce strict rules for the pool.
• Children should only use the pool if an adult is watching them carefully. This means the adult is close enough to touch them and is not distracted by reading or talking.
• Keep a phone by the pool in case of emergencies.

Play Equipment and Tree Houses

• Falls are the leading cause of injury among children. The most serious falls are ones from great heights and over hard surfaces.
• Tree houses should be low to the ground. A tree house that is greater than 10 feet in the air is too high.
• Cover the ground under swing sets, tree houses and play equipment with 12 inches of wood chips or mulch. This will help reduce the shock of a fall.
• Never attach ropes, jump ropes, clotheslines, or pet leashes to play equipment. These can cause strangulation.
• Injury experts recommend not having any kind of trampoline in your backyard.
• An adult should always watch young children playing outside.

Barbecue Grills

• Keep the grill at least 10 feet away from other objects, including the house and bushes.
• Keep children at least 3 feet away from the grill, outdoor cooking equipment, and fire pits.
• Always stand by the grill while cooking. When you are finished cooking, soak coals with cold water and then place them in a noncombustible metal can for safe disposal. Charcoal may feel cool to the touch, but if you throw away coals that are still hot on the inside, you may risk starting a fire.
• Never use the grill inside or in the garage.
• Store propane tanks in the garage, not in the house.

Plants

• Check your yard for poisonous plants. If you are not sure, you can call 1-800-222-1222 for a list of poisonous plants common to your area.
• Remove these plants if they are within your child’s reach.
• Teach your children to never put any berries, flowers or plants in their mouths.
• If you think your child has swallowed a poisonous plant, call 1-800-222-1222.

Lawn Mowers

• Do not mow your lawn while children are outside. They could be hit with a rock or stick thrown by the mower.
• Never allow children younger than 12 years old to mow the lawn.
• Keep the mower locked away out of reach of children. Never let children ride or play on the lawn mower.

Poisons

• Chemicals, cleaners, gas, car fluids, pesticides and fertilizers can be poisonous.
• Always tightly replace the lids of poisonous products and lock them up out of sight and reach of children.
• If your lawn has been treated with pesticides or fertilizer, do not let children play on it for at least 48 hours.

Railings and Steps

• Make sure that the railing is not more than 4 inches off the deck or porch surface so your child can’t crawl through.
• If the slats or spindles in your railing create spaces that are wider than 4 inches, add additional slats or spindles to fill in the gaps so your child cannot slip through. If this isn’t possible, install a guard on the inside.
• Keep furniture and outdoor decorations away from railings so children can’t use them to climb onto or over the railing.
• If you have stairs leading down from your deck or porch, make sure there is a handrail, and install a gate at the top and bottom of the stairs if you have small children.

Lighting

• Candles or torches: Place any open-flame lights, like candles or torches, up and out of your child’s reach. And remember to extinguish them before you go back inside.
• String lights: Make sure the lights don’t have frayed or exposed wires, and do not use the same extension cord for more than 3 strands of lights. Place the lights up and out of your child’s reach.
• Cover any outdoor electrical outlets that are not in use.

Monitoring Your Outdoor Space

• Make sure the doors and windows that lead to your deck or porch are always locked so children can’t access the space unsupervised.
• Check your outdoor space regularly for wear and tear like loose boards, railings, or splinters, and look for more serious deterioration that can be caused by water, weather, animals or insects.