All children are eager to play outdoors. While the outdoors provides a wonderful outlet for children to release energy, there is always the potential for “accidents”. Children need and want to take risks when they play. It is therefore important to offer children stimulating, challenging environments for exploring and developing their abilities. It is however also important that the environment should be such that children are not exposed to unacceptable risk of severe injury. Getting outside with the family is great, but kids outdoor safety is an important factor not to be overlooked when planning outdoor activities.

Sun safety

Infants’ skin is particularly susceptible to sun damage, with research having shown that infant skin is thinner and produces less melanin than adult skin. Damage at a young age can have permanent, serious effects and you should always take precautions to protect your child’s skin.

• Avoid the sun between 10am and 3pm even when the day is cool or cloudy.
• If outdoors, stay in the shade where ever possible. Remember that the sun’s rays can still reach you in shaded areas through reflection and through the shade, use the sunscreen for safety. If you plan to change the shade or planning to install one, always look for the UV protection covering.
• Buy UV protected coverings and the shades for the pram and strollers.
• Make sure to dress your kids in protective and appropriate clothing for the activities they are doing.
• Protect any parts of the body that are exposed with a high-factor sun screen, look for: SPF 30+, and water resistant. There are special sunscreens available for kids of certain age so choose them for kids and before applying on whole body try on a small part first in case if it has any allergic reactions.

Water & swimming pools

• Remove areas where water can collect; a child can drown in as little as 5cms of water.
• Install covers or fences around fountains and ponds.
• The fence should have a well maintained self-closing, self latching entry gate which should never be propped open. It should be high enough so that a child couldn’t climb the fence
• Supervise children at all times
• Know basic resuscitation & have a chart handy in case of emergency.

Street access

• Make sure that play areas are securely fenced off from drive ways and street access.
• We will soon be posting a seperate article on the road safety and car safety.

Vegetation & insects

• Scan your garden for poisonous vegetation as kids keep picking things and putting in their mouth.
• We are working on to provide the list of poison contact numbers for several countries.
• When you take your child out for outdoor activities or walk, make sure to protect your child with screens or pram covers and insect repellant lotions

Backyard safety

• Keep garden sheds, garages and laundries locked
• Make sure all chemicals like, fertilisers, pesticides etc are locked away.
• Keep garden tools, household tools, electrical tools and any sharp objects out of reach.
• Erect a barrier around the barbecue to prevent children from getting near hot surfaces or playing with them.
• Keep items that children could use to climb to reach hot surfaces away from the barbeque when in use.
• Deck railings should be at least 1m high and should be well maintained with no gaps and with vertical slats to deter climbing.
• Always keep an eye on any nails popping out of the deck floor.
• If your deck exit leads to the stairs, dont forget to install the stair gates.
• keep moveable items that children could use to climb away from railings
• Supervise your children at all times.

Other general care

• Stay hydrated when playing outdoors.
• Keep a first aid kit handy.
• Always have kids wear life jackets when playing near a body of water, they may be looking out of place, but safety first.
• Appropriate head potection must be worn for all the activities you do.
• Walking on the trail, running on the sand on a public beach or walking around the neighborhood park requires activity appropriate footwear. Same shoes may may not be suitable for different activities.