NEW HOME SAFETY COUNCIL® RESEARCH REVEALS VAST MAJORITY OF FAMILIES UNDERESTIMATE BACKYARD INJURY RISKS

From Yard Work to Backyard Parties, The Home Safety Council's New, Interactive Tool Helps Families Avoid Home Injury this Summer

From pools and playgrounds to summer barbeques, many home injury risks lurk right in the backyard. Yet, a recent survey conducted by the national nonprofit Home Safety Council reveals that only three percent of U.S. adults surveyed ranked backyard injury among their top home injury concerns.

More than 80 percent of survey respondents report having a backyard, yet nearly 40 percent have not taken any measures to prevent backyard injuries. In fact, less than one-quarter (24 percent) carefully watch children when they are using backyard play equipment and less than one in 10 respondents (8 percent) have put in a four-sided fence that goes all around the pool, blocking direct access to it from the home.

To help adults identify the dangers present in the backyard and every area of their home, the Home Safety Council recently debuted an interactive, online resource where visitors are able to explore a virtual home to learn about the safety actions and products needed to prevent home injuries. A comprehensive summer safety resource, MySafeHome.org (link to http://www.mysafehome.org/) includes backyard and pool/spa areas and highlights the most common injury risks found in these areas of the home. The site offers simple, straightforward tips and checklists to help families enjoy their pools, playgrounds and grills safely.

"MySafeHome.org is quickly becoming one of the Home Safety Council's most used and trusted resources," said Meri-K Appy, president of the Home Safety Council. "Whether you are hosting a cookout for friends and family or playing with the kids in the pool, it is important to be aware of the potential injury risks and take action to correct them before an injury occurs. By offering easy-to-follow, actionable advice specific to each area of the home, MySafeHome.org helps caregivers create an organized and detailed plan for year-long home safety."

Summer Safety Tips

With backyard activities in full swing, the Home Safety Council wants to remind parents of tried and true safety tips. Following recommended backyard safety practices may help prevent serious injury this summer and year-round.

Grilling Safety:

• Stay by the grill and pay close attention the whole time food is cooking.
• Designate the grilling area a "No Play Zone" and keep kids and pets well away until grill equipment is completely cool.
• Before using, position your grill at least ten feet away from other objects, including the house and any shrubs or bushes.
• Before using a gas grill, check the connection between the propane tank and the fuel line to be sure it is working properly and not leaking.
• Never use a match to check for leaks. Instead, rub the hose line with a dishwashing liquid and water solution. If you see any bubbles or detect a leak, immediately turn off the gas and don't attempt to light the grill again until the leak is fixed.
• When lighting a charcoal grill, do it right the first time. Choose pre-treated charcoal or carefully follow directions on the charcoal starter fluid can. Once you have lit the charcoal, never add more lighter fluid as it may cause the can to explode. If the fire seems out, use paper or kindling to help a slow starting grill.

Pool Safety:

• Install fencing that surrounds the pool completely, blocking direct access from the house. The fencing should be at least 5 ft. high and have self-latching and self-locking gates.
• Regardless of age or skill level, no one is "drown proof." Children must always be supervised while they in or near water by an adult who is paying close attention.
• Learn and practice basic lifesaving techniques, including First Aid and CPR. Insist that anyone who cares for your children learn CPR.
• Keep poolside rescue equipment close to the pool area at all times, and bring a cordless telephone outside while using the pool.
• Entrapment underwater can be deadly. Install anti-entrapment drain covers.
• Teach children that drains, grates and filters are not toys. Never stick fingers or toes in these openings and stay away from suction devices.
• If a child is missing, check the pool area first.

Playground Safety:

• Closely supervise children when they are using playground equipment.
• Cover areas under and around play equipment with soft materials such as hardwood chips, mulch, pea gravel and sand (materials should be nine to 12 inches deep and extend six feet from all sides of play equipment).
• Beware of entrapment or entanglement hazards. A child's head can be trapped in openings between three-and-a-half and nine inches wide. Remove strings and draw-cords from young children's jackets to prevent strangulation.

To learn more about backyard summer safety, please visit MySafeHome.org.

MySafeHome.org

HSC's new, interactive home injury prevention teaching tool, MySafeHome.org, brings comprehensive home safety to life for visitors. The Web site invites visitors into a virtual home where state-of-the-art digital animation identifies major risk areas, room-by-room, indoors and out, and presents the key safety devices and preparedness plans that are important for every safe home.