BACKYARD SAFETY
off from the driveway, the pool, from any steps or stairs in the garden or around a verandah and from animals that might harm them. • Fences should be well-maintained, effective and without sharp edges. • Children also need an area that is open and clear of obstacles.
BICYCLES IN THE BACKYARD
BACKYARD SAFETY SAFE BACKYARD The backyard is a wonderful place for children to explore and learn about their environment. It is also a place where the happiest childhood memories are created, experiences are learned and it is a great place to get children more physically active. • Many children are injured in their home backyard. On an average day in Australia, about 5,000 children have accidents that require medical attention, 200 children are admitted to hospital, and there are one or two child deaths. • About half of the injuries to children under 15 happen at home and about half of all children injured at home are under five. Many of these home injuries happen in the home backyard • Nearly half (44 per cent) of all backyard injuries come from falls. Children trip over objects (toys, tools, animals), fall off play equipment (swings, slides, cubbies), fall off verandahs, down steps and out of trees. Other main types of backyard injury include cuts (12 per cent), poisons (nine per cent), scalds/burns (six percent), choking
(five per cent), bites (three per cent) and drownings or near drownings (one per cent). Many of these injuries can be serious or even fatal. But, at the same time, most can be prevented. A safe place to play
A kidsafe backyard is a place where there are plenty of child-friendly things to do, but without major hazards. • Children need a safe place to play that is fenced
Many children learn to ride a bicycle in their backyard. It’s safe and the surface is usually softer than concrete or bitumen. But a backyard can also be small and difficult to ride in. Most injuries from bicycles are the result of falls; falls from riding into objects and being unbalanced. To guard against falls and other bicycle injuries: • Make the bike riding area safe, preferably fenced off from the roadway. Keep it clear of obstacles and tripping hazards. • Make sure that the bike fits the child. Younger children need to start with three-wheelers, move to two-wheelers with trainers, until they can balance well on two wheels (at about four to five years). • Make sure that the child can get on and off, steer and brake easily. They should be able to rest their feet on the ground when the bike is not moving. • Children should wear bike helmets, even in the
safe? How can you make your backyard STEP ONE: Look for dangers in the backyard. This chapter will help you be more aware of these hazards. STEP TWO: Decide what to do about the hazard or danger. What you do about it will depend on just how dangerous it is, how it can be changed and what kind of problem it is for your children. In general: • It is best to remove the hazard • The next best step is to safeguard or protect against the hazard; • You can try to keep watch over your children all of the time, but this is often impossible; • Don’t expect your children to be aware of what is or is not dangerous, especially young children. STEP THREE: Make changes so that the hazard is no longer dangerous.
HOW TO PREVENT BACKYARD ACCIDENTS
Accidents don’t just happen. Sometimes there is an obvious cause, at other time s accidents seem unavoidable but most can easily be prevented. Children are ofte n unaware of danger but adults underst and the type of things that can cause accidents. It’s really up to parents to try and prevent accidents by thinking ahe ad.
backyard. Head injuries are the most serious type of bicycle injury. • The bike should be well maintained; • Take time to teach children how to ride a bicycle. • Older children may need a more challenging place to ride a bike. There are good BMX tracks where they can ride in safety. • Store bikes safely when not in use; left lying around the garden they become another object to fall over.
CUTTING HAZARDS The home backyard may contain sharp, cutting edges on play equipment, toys that are broken or badly designed, broken glass or empty drink cans, garden tools and garden equipment. All of these are cutting hazards. To protect children against cutting injuries: • Store all tools with sharp edges in locked areas, out of children’s reach. • Keep the backyard clear of rubbish. • Buy well-made and well-designed play equipment and children’s toys. Child Safety Handbook
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