Your home can be full of dangers, both inside and outside. Your backyard or other parts of your home’s exterior, such as your driveway, should be safe spaces for your family to use, but there can be a number of hazards that make it harder to use these spaces safely. If you take the time to make the inside of your home safer, it’s important to also check the outside of your home and make sure it’s safe too. Take a look at some of these suggestions that you should consider if you want to remove any unnecessary dangers from your outside space.
Overhanging, Diseased, or Rotting Trees
Having trees outside your home can give you several benefits. They look great, might produce fruit or some lovely flowers, and they can provide shade for your home too. But they can also be dangerous if you don’t keep an eye on them. If a large branch or even the whole tree comes down, it could cause damage to your home or hurt someone. You should use tree removal services to get rid of any unhealthy or unstable trees. Check them for disease or signs of rotting regularly. This is especially important before a storm when trees can get blown over.
Untidy Yard
Leaving your yard untidy can create a range of problems for anyone who wants to use it. If you have children, they could get hold of things they shouldn’t have, such as dangerous tools or chemicals. Even adults could accidentally hurt themselves by stepping on a stray tool or something similar. You should make sure you store all gardening tools safely and that any chemicals or gardening products are secured where children and pets can’t get to them. Remember to put things away when you’ve finished with them to keep them out of sight.
Tripping Hazards
Some things can present tripping hazards in your home’s outdoor space. For example, a hole in your lawn could be the perfect place for someone to catch their foot while running or walking. Cracks in your patio, path, or driveway – loose boards or nails coming up on your deck could also cause someone to trip. It’s a good idea to regularly survey your outside space to check for anything that might need to be repaired. Holes might need to be filled in or cracks might need to be fixed so that you can create a safer area to walk, run and play.
Danger from Flora and Fauna
There can be some dangers from plants and animals that are important to be aware of. For example, being able to spot poisonous plants and know how to remove them is useful. Depending on where you live, you might have various animals that could hurt you. This could range from bugs and reptiles to large mammals. Some animals that might not (usually) be dangerous to you could also pose a risk to your pets, such as some birds of prey. Being vigilant and creating a secure area can help.
As parents, we do everything we can to make sure our homes are safe for our children, as well as our friends and family. Give the same care to outdoor dangers as you would indoors to create a safer home for your family and visitors.
