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HOMEOWNER
TIPS: YARD SAFETY
Speaker
of the House Inspection Services offers the following tips about yard
safety.
Yard
- A swimming pool
should have a fence or barrier surrounding all four sides with self-closing
and self-latching gates. If the house is part of the barrier, all
doors leading from the house to the pool should be protected with
an alarm. Position latches out of reach of young children. Keep all
doors and windows leading to the pool area secure to prevent small
children from getting to the pool.
- Never leave a child
unsupervised near a pool. During social gatherings at or near a pool,
appoint a "designated watcher" to protect young children
from pool accidents. Adults may take turns being the "watcher."
When adults become preoccupied, children are at risk. If a child is
missing, check the pool first. Seconds count in preventing death or
disability. Go to the edge of the pool and scan the entire pool, bottom
and surface, as well as the pool area.
- Tables and chairs
should be placed well away from the pool fence to prevent children
from climbing into the pool area.
- Have a telephone
at poolside to avoid having to leave children unattended in or near
the pool to answer a telephone elsewhere. Keep emergency numbers at
the poolside telephone.
Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). Keep rescue equipment by
the pool.
- Divers should observe
the following precautions. Never dive into aboveground pools. They
are too shallow. Don't dive from the side of an in-ground pool. Enter
the water feet first. Dive only from the end of the diving board and
not from the sides. Dive with your hands in front of you and always
steer up immediately upon entering the water to avoid hitting the
bottom or sides of the pool. Don't dive if you have been using alcohol
or drugs because your reaction time may be too slow. Improper use
of pool slides presents the same danger as improper diving techniques.
Never slide down head first; slide down feet first only.
- Always store pesticides
away from children's reach, in a locked cabinet or garden shed. Read
the label first and follow the directions to the letter, including
all precautions and restrictions. Before applying pesticides (indoors
and outdoors), remove children and their toys from the area and keep
them away until it is dry or as recommended by the label. Never leave
pesticides unattended when you are using them -- not even for a few
minutes. Never transfer pesticides to other containers -- children
may associate certain containers with food or drink. Use child-resistant
packaging properly by closing the container tightly after use. Alert
others to the potential hazard, especially grandparents and caregivers.
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- Use paint strippers
outdoors if possible. If you must use them indoors, cross-ventilate
by opening all doors and windows. Make sure there is fresh air movement
throughout the room. Ventilate the area before, during, and after
applying and stripping. Never use any paint stripper in a poorly ventilated
area. If work must be done indoors under low ventilation conditions,
consider having the work done professionally instead of attempting
it yourself. Do not use flammable paint strippers near any source
of sparks, flame, or high heat. Do not work near gas stoves, kerosene
heaters, gas or electric water heaters, gas or electric clothes dryers,
gas or electric furnaces, gas or electric space heaters, sanders,
buffers, or other electric hand tools. Open flames, cigarettes, matches,
lighters, pilot light, or electric sparks can cause the chemicals
in the paint strippers to suddenly catch fire.
(NOTE:
All information comes courtesy of the U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207)
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