Yahoo Lifestyle The safe outdoors - keeping your kids safe outside this summer
Woohoo! With warmer weather finally here, it’s time to emerge from those winter cocoons and get out into the yard with your littlie. Outdoor play is not only exciting, it’s also important for her development. It helps build everything from her language to her problem-solving skills and allows her to discover more about her world. But it’s not all fun and games. Read on to find out how to navigate potential hazards and beat those backyard baddies.
Staying safe on play equipment
Most kids have a ball flying high on the swing set, but according to Barbara Minuzzo, from The Safety Centre at The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, a third of home injuries to children under five years of age occur in the garden or garage – and play equipment is usually to blame. When choosing outdoor play equipment, Barbara says to make sure its design is appropriate for your child’s developmental stage and to give thought to any potential misuse – a good example being, is your little one able to climb onto the roof of a playhouse and fall off? Good hand-grips are essential for climbing equipment, she adds, and children should wear appropriate footwear (rubber-soled, fully-enclosed shoes) when playing on it. “And, of course, to really keep your child safe on play equipment, close and constant supervision is key.”
If you have older kids, make sure any outdoor gear they use that isn’t appropriate for your younger one (think bikes and scooters) is cleared away before your littlest littlie is let loose.
Melita Leeds, from Kidsafe WA, says outdoor play equipment should be sturdy, strong and well-maintained. “Check it regularly for wear and tear and any safety hazards – it should be free from sharp edges, pieces that can come loose, and have no openings or moving parts that could trap or injure children.”
Staying safe around water
Australia has one of the highest rates of child drowning in the world and, according to Rob Bradley, CEO of The Royal Life Saving Society of Australia, it’s not just the obvious culprits to look out for. “Children have drowned in buckets, eskies, inflatable pools, drains, water tanks, pet bowls and fishponds – as well as pools, dams, rivers and creeks,” he says.
Adult supervision is vital, Rob says, as the most dangerous time for drowning is when Mum and Dad are distracted, such as when they’re busy preparing meals, on the phone or greeting guests.
It’s also important to have barriers: both around the drowning hazard and your child. “Make sure your pool fence complies with safety standards and regularly check it’s in good condition, with no loose screws or panels, and ensure the gate is fitted with a safety lock that ideally auto-closes,” Rob says. Check the
fence is always firmly latched and remind older kids in the house to do the same.
Ensure buckets, pet bowls and other such items are either stored out of sight and reach or are kept upside down so they can’t fill up with water, and let the air out of inflatable pools and pack them up when not in use.
Putting a barrier around your child, Rob says, means having a fenced off area that she can play in that is completely free from any items that can fill up with water. As with pool fencing, ensure the gates and panels are in good condition and that the gate is securely latched.
Staying safe around cars and driveways
It’s a startling and sad figure: every week in Australia, one child is run over in the driveway of their own home, according to Melita. “Children between the ages of one and two years are most vulnerable, as they move very quickly and without warning. They have no comprehension of danger, and their height makes them hard to see from the driver’s seat,” Melita says, adding that in the time it takes for a driver to say goodbye and start the car, a child that was in a safe spot may have moved to a dangerous blind spot and be at risk of being run over.
Rule one for keeping your littlie safe around driveways and cars is to always supervise her and never let her use the driveway as a play area. “Make access to the driveway from the house difficult for young children, possibly by using security doors, fencing or gates,” Melita advises.
Make sure you can see your child when backing out of the driveway (have someone hold her hand if you can) and, if your car has one, make use of the reversing camera.
Staying safe in the sun
Professor Ian Olver, CEO of the Cancer Council Australia, says skin cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in Australia, with more than 430,000 Australians treated a year. “The major cause of skin cancer is too much exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun – it can take as little as 15 minutes
in the summer sun to burn skin,” he says.
The skin of bubs and young children is particularly delicate and sensitive, he adds, which means it can burn a lot faster.
Professor Olver advises you protect yourself and your munchkin from the harmful rays of the sun, and instil a sun-smart mindset in your child from an early age, by slipping on sun-protective clothing: a long-sleeved, loose cotton shirt is ideal, along with a pair of sunglasses and a broad-brimmed hat. “Make sure that 20 minutes before going into the sun, you slop on the SPF 30+, too,” he says.
Remember to take extra care between 10am and 3pm, when the sun’s rays are most intense – it’s even a good idea to avoid being in direct sun during these hours, if you can. If you have an iPhone, you can download the free SunSmart app from the iTunes Store to get an update on the day’s rays and be reminded of protection measures.
Also, don’t forget to stay hydrated while running around in the sun!
Staying safe around insects and creepy crawlies
Curious kids love exploring through the yard, which is also where spiders, bees, wasps and other critters that can be harmful like to lurk. This is no reason to steer clear of the great outdoors, though! Barbara says there are plenty of ways to minimise nasty encounters. “For starters, teach children not to touch or pick up bugs or insects and check play equipment each day for signs of snakes, spiders, cockroaches and other insects.” She also suggests dressing your child in appropriate protective clothing, such as enclosed shoes and long pants, and recommends using a child-safe insect repellant.
Staying safe around plants
Yep, plants! “Common plants that can cause skin irritations or choking include cactus plants, rose bushes and berries. Ones that can cause poisoning include atrium lily, azalea, oleander, daffodils, deadly nightshade, hydrangea, iris, lantana and wisteria,” Barbara says. Ensure your child can’t get to these plants – removal is probably best. Not sure if you’ve got them in your garden? You can identify potentially hazardous plants by using a plant reference guide with photos (check your local library) or asking your local council to provide an inspection.
Teach your child not to put plants or berries into her mouth or nose (this one can be tricky!), and it pays to be aware of the symptoms eating poisonous plants can illicit, such as vomiting, abdominal pain, burning of the mouth, rashes and difficulty breathing.
Staying safe around dogs
Barbara says that most children injured as a result of dog bites are under the age of five, and that it’s important to remember all dogs, irrespective of breed, nature and amount of time they have been with your family, can bite. “Children can unintentionally frighten or hurt a dog, and the animal may instinctively react by biting.”
Dogs can be a joyful and important part of a child’s life, she says, but it’s important to take appropriate precautions. “At the end of the day, no matter how well-trained your dog is, you need to provide constant and close supervision when dogs and children are together.” Also teach your child not to approach your puppy while he sleeps, to avoid startling him, and to look at her feet, rather than maintain eye contact. “Train your dog to sit, stay, drop and come on command, too, and choose a breed that is family friendly,” Barbara says.
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