By ~*Katie*~

Every year, nearly 40,000 children and youth are taken to hospital emergency rooms due to injuries that occurred at home.

Most causes of injury and even death occur in your backyard by prowlers you never even see! But after reading this informative article, you will know just what to do to prevent accidents at home that involve your children.

If you are considering having a swimming pool or already have one in your backyard, make sure that it is surrounded with a high fence that cannot be climbed.

If you have a clothesline in your yard, make sure that it is above head level to prevent strangulation and neck injuries.

Always stack those cheap plastic patio chairs. They tip so easily if a little one leans the wrong way. They are less appealing when they are stacked and placed out of the way.

Keep your “Adult” tables away from fences, sheds, or tree branches. They are almost always used as stairways to all out of reach areas.

When building a fence make sure to always ask yourself “Can it be climbed?” High wood fences work best and eliminate foot and hand holds.

Always lock up garden tools and equipment. A locked shed is a mystery to a little one and you can almost bet they will pick the lock until they succeed in opening it.

Sandboxes are great, but can also be devious. Make sure yours has a cover to keep out the rain and all unwanted critters that will use it as their personal toilet.

Dirt, too, can be harmful. Some dirt may contain lead, which is very hazardous. Lead is a soft, heavy, blue-gray metal. It occurs naturally in the Earth’s crust, but can be transmitted to the child. Lead was also used in house paint in the past. You can be exposed to lead by breathing air, drinking water, eating food or swallowing or touching dust or dirt that contains lead.

The most common source of children’s exposure to lead is contaminated dust from older homes that used lead-based paint. The dust gets on their hands and toys through normal hand-and-mouth activity. Children can also be exposed by eating paint chips that contain lead or by playing in lead contaminated dirt.

Have you considered that the beautiful daffodils growing in your yard could be harmful to your curious toddler? This is very true. Daffodils and other plants can cause stomach and intestinal irritation in your little one. Child proofing your garden will help prevent this and other unnecessary accidents.

Install locks on all outdoor gates to prevent your child from leaving the yard and wandering into the street.

Make sure to cover or fence off fishponds. Remove all poisonous plants from your garden and remove any and all mushrooms and toad stools as they appear in your yard. Teach your children NEVER to eat any plant or berry without first asking an adult. Toddlers are willing to taste anything so also bury any animal droppings.

Limit sun exposure during the hours of 10AM to 3PM and always apply sunscreen on the child and reapply due to wetness or sweating.

To prevent dehydration, always offer the child water to sip on. Children get too occupied in playing and they don’t think to ask for something to drink.

Remember to prevent accidents and to keep your family and children safe from harm, look out for the unseen prowlers and follow these simple precautions.

Have a happy and healthy summer!