178
HOUSEHOLD EMERGENCIES
Yard safety
Yards and outside buildings present many hazards, so safety is an essential part of yard maintenance. Check that garden yard boundaries are secure, especially if children or animals are likely to be outside; that paths and patios are free of debris; and that toolsheds and equipment are securely locked. Gardening itself can be a dangerous pastime, so make sure that you also take the necessary precautions when working with tools and machinery.
PREVENTING ACCIDENTS IN THE YARD
• Remove or fence off any poisonous plants or trees in your yard.
• Keep children and animals away from any area that has been sprayed with weedkiller.
• Cover outside drains with metal grills so that children’ s feet will not get caught inside them. Grills will also help prevent garbage from blocking drains.
• Fence off ponds, swimming pools, and any other water features in the yard if the space is used by children.
• Do not attempt to use a wheelbarrow to move heavy equipment; it will be very unstable. It is much safer to use a cart instead.
! Water danger
• Young children can drown in as little as a few inches of water. Even a
bucket of water poses a danger.
• If you have a pond, take the precaution of stretching strong plastic netting
over the pond and securing it firmly with wooden pegs.
• For complete peace of mind, consider filling in a pond and choosing a
safer water feature, such as a small fountain.
• Make sure that any water barrels have secure lids.
• Don’ t risk injuring your back by lifting a heavy load on your own – ask someone to help you.
• Never run a powerline along a fence or bury it underground when running electricity to a shed or workshop. Use special shielded cable underground, or run cable overhead, supported by a special wire. When in doubt, consult an electrician.
• For outside lighting and waterfeature pumps, use a 12-volt system with a transformer and house it in a dry shed or other outdoor building.
• When you are operating electrical power tools, such as lawnmowers or hedge clippers, always secure a circuit breaker between the piece of equipment and the power source. Make sure that you wear the appropriate safety gear, such as safety goggles, protective gloves and if necessary ear protectors.
Wear safety goggles to protect eyes
Wear ear protectors if tools are noisy
Choose protective gloves for yard work