Do You Have Kids? How to Stay SAFE This Summer

Summer has officially started here in Central Kentucky! Maybe you are looking at a sparkling pool in your backyard. Maybe there is a trampoline under a nice shade tree in your yard where all the neighborhood kids love to gather and jump. Maybe your fur baby dog isn’t much of an ice and snow type of pet and loves to play outdoors in the summer with friends at a backyard BBQ.

While all of these scenarios are what summer dreams are made of, have you ever thought of what the implications in your life could be if someone got hurt on your property having fun?

Did you know? (www.safekids.org)

• Drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death among children between 1 and 4 years old.
• It’s the third leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children 19 and under.
• Children under the age of 10 most often fatally drown in swimming pools

When faced with these types of statistics, you can see that being hyper-vigilant as a homeowner with a pool is imperative. A few easy ways to be safer and protect yourself and others from accidental drownings include:

• HAVE A FENCE AROUND YOUR POOL WITH A LOCKING GATE. Most insurance companies require this but if not, take it upon yourself to just install the fence and gate.
• Buy a sensor that stays in the pool and sounds an alert if a water disturbance (such as the splash of a child falling in) is detected. You can also buy individual wearable alarms that children can wear. The alarm goes off when it touches water.
• If you have an above ground pool, move your ladder away from the pool when not in use.
• If you’re having a pool party, tag team with other sober adults to be the “lifeguard” in charge of watching all the kids in 15-20 minute increments.

https://www.safekids.org/sites/default/files/documents/2020_fast_facts_drownings_v1.pdf

https://www.thebump.com/a/best-pool-alarms

How about trampoline safety?

It’s not a stretch to imagine the injuries that can be sustained on a trampoline. Broken arms, broken legs, or more serious injuries like a head injury or broken neck are very real possibilities. If your own children are injured, of course you will get them the medical attention they need and your personal health insurance will pick up the bill. What happens if one of the neighborhood kids is injured? In all likelihood, their parents will want to file an injury, or liability claim against your homeowner’s insurance policy. What if there is a very serious injury sustained? Work with your agent to be sure you have enough coverage for a lawsuit situation. (think umbrella policy here)

In addition to injuries caused by jumping, you probably don’t realize your trampoline can also be a flying hazard in a severe storm with high winds and cause damage to other people or property.

What are some steps you can take to make your trampoline as safe as possible?

• Be sure you have a safety net around your trampoline.
• Frequently inspect all aspects of the hardware, netting, etc. to be sure there is no wear and tear or broken items that need to be replaced.
• ALWAYS have adults supervising the jumping!
• Be the mean neighbor and don’t allow anyone that doesn’t reside in your household on the trampoline.

https://www.healthline.com/health/childrens-health/trampoline-safety-22-tips-and-cautions

Lastly, we have talked about dog bites and your home owner’s insurance before, but it bears repeating. According to Kids-n-K9s, most dog bites occur with a known dog, in a familiar place. Their website also shares these statistics:

• Most dog bites affecting young children occur during everyday activities and while interacting with a familiar dog. (CDC)
• The vast majority of biting dogs (77%) belong to the victim’s family or a friend. (CDC)
• 80% of dog bites happen at home (Kahn et al (2004) MIller and Howell (2007)

How can you keep everyone happy and healthy? If you have guests, keep your dog put away in a safe place where there is no interaction with others. When kids are running around and having fun, they are not paying attention to how their actions can affect your family pet. Many times kids misread the dog’s body language and the dog lashes out due to stress or overstimulation.

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/all-around/Pages/Dog-Bite-Prevention-Tips.aspx

I truly hope you have a wonderful summer! Take the few extra minutes to provide a safe environment at your home and keep the fun in summer and the injuries at bay!