Spring Safety Tips

Fire Safety Education

SPRING ACTIVITIES MAY INCREASE RISK OF HOME INJURIES

As the weather warms, American families are turning their attention to in-home cleaning as well as outdoor projects and play. Whether household chores and cleaning, do-it-yourself tasks or playground games, these common spring activities are often associated with a number of serious home dangers including falls, poisonings, fires/burns and drowning hazards. The Home Safety Council says the risk of injury can be greatly reduced by following simple safety steps inside and outside the home.

According to the Home Safety Council's State of Home Safety in America report, nearly 20,000 deaths and 21 million medical visits result from unintentional home injuries on average year. Chores as simple as reorganizing cabinets can make families vulnerable to falls and poisoning - the two leading causes of unintentional home injury in America.

"Home injuries are a year round problem, but certain spring activities put families at even greater risk outdoors and around the house." according to the Home Safety Council. "We want people to be able to recognize potential dangers associated with these activities and make quick and easy adjustments in and around the home before getting caught up in spring activities."

SPRING CLEANING THE SAFE WAY

The Home Safety Council urges families to keep safe practices that help prevent falls, poisonings, fires/burns and drowning top of mind while cleaning up and cleaning out your home, garage and yard.

  • When cleaning out closets or re-organizing, reduce the risk of falls by keeping stairs, steps, landings and all floors clear of clutter.
  • Carry loads you can see over, and keep one hand free to hold banisters and railings.
  • Remember to reduce clutter and safely tuck away telephone and electrical cords out of walkways. In homes with children, make sure toys and other items are always safely put away when not in use.
  • If you need to climb, use a stepladder or safety ladder. When using a ladder, stand at or below the highest safe standing level. For a stepladder, the safe standing level is the second rung from the top, and for an extension ladder, it is the fourth rung from the top. Before using, make sure the rungs are dry and the ladder is securely positioned on a flat surface.
  • When cleaning out cabinets, read all product and medications labels carefully and separate those that say "Caution," "Warning" or "Danger" on them. To prevent poison exposures, lock these up out of sight and reach of young children.
  • Follow safety recommendations when using harsh products, such as wearing gloves and masks. Do not mix products together because their contents could react with dangerous results.
  • Never use gasoline as a cleaning solvent and never use or store gasoline in your home, even in tiny quantities. Because its vapors can readily ignite, gasoline can present a serious fire home hazard and is too dangerous to use for any purpose other than as a motor fuel.
  • Large buckets are often used while cleaning and present a serious drowning danger to young children. Never leave a bucket or any standing water unattended and store all buckets and barrels empty and upside-down.

A SAFE BACKYARD

As the weather becomes warmer and days are longer, we spend as much time as we can outdoors enjoying the backyard. It is important to remember the following tips while in the yard, especially if you have children:

LAWN AND GARDEN SAFETY

  • Keep children inside the house or well away from the area you are mowing.
  • Never let children ride on tractor mowers and make all mowers and power tools "off Limits" to young kids when stored. Wear closed-toe shoes when mowing.
  • Before mowing, prepare your lawn by walking over it, checking for broken limbs, stones, toys and anything else that could shoot out from under the mower or damage the blade. Before you start your lawn mower for the first time, check to make sure that all guards are in place.
  • Refuel mowers outside, when the engine is cool, and well away from any sparks, flames or heat sources. Properly clean up any spilled gasoline.
  • Never reach under the mower unless it is turned off and the blade has completely stopped turning and only refuel the mower after it has completely cooled down.
  • Practice poison prevention. Store pesticides and herbicides in original containers, on high shelves or inside locked cabinets, out of the reach of children.
  • Garden tools such as rakes, spades, forks, pruning clippers, files and metal plant stakes should not be left lying around when not in use. Store these with sharp points aiming down.
  • Wear proper eye protection when using any power tool and don't wear any loose or dangling clothing that could be caught in moving parts.

PLAYGROUND SAFETY TIPS

  • Cover areas under and around play equipment with soft materials such as wood chips, wood mulch, and sand (materials should be nine to 12 inches deep and extend six feet from all sides of play equipment).
  • Do not suspend more than two swing seats in the same section of a swing support structure.
  • Check equipment for signs of deterioration or corrosion, including rust, chipped paint, splitting or cracked plastic components or loose splinters.
  • Avoid putting play equipment close together. For example, stationary climbing equipment should have an uncluttered fall zone of at lest six feet in all directions of equipment. For swings, the minimum use zone extends at least twice the height of the swing beam.
  • Slides and platforms for climbing equipment should not exceed heights of six feet for school-age children or four feet for pre-school children.
  • Beware of entrapment of entanglement hazards. A child's head can be trapped in openings between 3.5 and 9 inches wide. Pull out drawstrings in children's outerwear and remove necklaces, purses and scarves before play.
  • Avoid elevated platforms, walkways, or ramps that lack adequate guardrails or other barriers (to help prevent children from falling).
  • Watch for possible tripping hazards such as rocks and roots. Clear this debris from your child's play area.
  • Always supervise children when they are using playground equipment.