Child safety in the garden
24 June 2011.The summer is drawing near and once more we are spending a lot of our leisure time outside in the open air, preferably in our own gardens. But dangers also lurk on familiar ground. We tell you how you can neutralise the worst dangers and make your time outside enjoyable
Did you know that
- most people are stung by bees when they walk through their garden barefoot or are gardening?
- bees and wasps are attracted by certain colours and smells?
- Dark and intense colours attract bees and wasps, as do smells like sweet food or drinks
- stinging wasps and bees release an attractant that induces their own species to sting as well?
- many cases of drowning, even in a pool in one’s own garden, are not prevented because small children drown almost silently?
- Due to their heavy heads, small children have a different centre of gravity to adults and their weak pectoral muscles are unable to lift their heads out of the water.
- small children can drown in a depth of a few centimetres?
- In panic situations, small children are unable to lift their heads out of the water on their own, sinking into a type of stiffness with respiratory arrest.
- If you are planning a pond or pool, only erect it in a location that is well visible.
- Have ponds, wet gardens, paddling pools or even access to a stream professionally fenced off.
- Ensure that outside sockets are equipped with child-safety devices.
- Always keep lawnmowers, garden tools, pest control agents and fertilisers safely locked away. Put ladders away again after use.
- Ensure that you do not grow any poisonous plants in your garden. If you wish to grow them, children should not be able to reach them.
- If you have playing or climbing apparatus in your garden, check them constantly to ensure perfect functioning and that the material is not damaged. Rust, loose screws, protruding parts or splintering wood are taboo.
- Keep children away from lawnmowers. Children and young people should never use motor-operated lawnmowers alone.
- Despite all precautions, never leave your children unattended wherever possible.
