How to Accident-Proof Your Yard for Summer
Brian Acton
If you live in a home with a yard, you know how well outdoor spaces pair with warm weather: relaxed BBQs, family recreation, and outdoor dinners are just a few of the activities you can enjoy during the summer months.
But like every other aspect of a home, yards require upkeep to remain safe and secure. Some preventive maintenance now can help prevent accidents and injuries this summer. Here’s how to accident-proof your yard for summer.
- Trim Your Trees
Winter storms can weaken tree branches, making them vulnerable to breaking and falling on bystanders below. Look for broken and splintered branches, dead and diseased limbs, or branches that hang near power lines or your roof. Trim them safely, with the proper equipment and with a safety spotter if possible.
- Check Your Deck
Time to check your deck, patio, or porch for damage that can cause injuries. Look for rotted or loose boards and railings, which can break or collapse when someone puts weight on them. Damaged boards should be patched up or replaced completely. Check for loose nails that need to be removed, covered, or bent back.
Brick and stone patios should be checked for broken, loose, or uneven pieces. Look at concrete areas like driveways for chips and cracks, and inspect metal for rust, corrosion, or sharp edges.
- Maintain Your Tools
Check your garden and power tools. Anything that is damaged beyond repair should be thrown away. Make sure your tools are clean and sharpened, and that you have a few durable pairs of gloves on standby. Power tools and lawnmowers should be cleaned, well lubricated, and checked to ensure the blades are in good shape.
- Clean Your Grill
If you didn’t get around to cleaning your grill before winter, do it now. Excess build up of gunk can lead to grill flareups (grills cause an average of 10,600 home fires per year). Place your grill away from structures, where any fires are less likely to spread to your home. Check for rusted and corroded parts that need to be replaced.
- Fix Your Fence
Check your fence for needed repairs like splintered wood, exposed nails or rotted boards and replace them as necessary. To keep kids or pets from getting stuck, make sure the gaps between boards are too narrow to get a body part through.
- Secure Your Swimming Pool
It’s a good idea to keep your pool protected by a fence that’s at least four feet high and repair any broken drain or suction covers. Hot tubs should be locked and covered when not in use. Make sure to empty and turn over kiddie pools when not in use - kids can drown in just an inch or two of water.