(MCT)—A home’s outdoor space can provide an oasis of relaxation during summer — a mini vacation from daily stress and an ideal venue for gathering friends. But with every backyard paradise comes a long list of potential risks. June is National Safety Month, and it’s a good time for some common-sense reminders about how to keep your yard as danger-free as possible.
Pool and Swimming Safety
Niko King, assistant chief of the Sacramento, Calif., Fire Department, says pool-related incidents are common backyard emergencies in the summer.
“Unfortunately, we have a lot of drownings here,” King says.
Secure barriers and self-latching gates can make all the difference with backyard pool safety, according Dr. Melissa Arca, pediatrician, blogger and mother of two.
Her recommendation is supported by law, which, in California, mandates that within single-family homes, pools and spas made or remodeled after 1998 must have one of seven safety features.
These drowning-prevention features include access-limiting enclosures, self-closing and latching gates, pool covers that meet safety requirements, alarms and other protective measures.
