Spring is a time when children head outdoors to finally enjoy the warm weather and the sunshine after being cooped up all winter long. It’s a beautiful season for all ages, but it can also be a dangerous one if caregivers don’t take certain precautions in the house and yard.
In this article, we will discuss the safety issues that homeowners and household staff members should know to keep children safe around the house this spring. We’ll also touch on what to look for when you hire domestic staff to supervise children in the home.
Stow Away Gardening Supplies
Many homeowners enjoy gardening around this time of year or delegate gardening tasks to an experienced staff member instead. This hobby involves many sharp tools and potentially hazardous substances, so it’s important to put all gardening supplies away immediately after use. Otherwise, children may get curious and be tempted to play with shovels, rakes, fertilizer, and other materials that have been left lying around.
Monitor Open Windows
Opening up a home’s windows is a sure sign of spring, and nothing feels better than letting in fresh air to reinvigorate your space. However, open windows can pose serious hazards for young children who could potentially fall of them. It is not enough to rely upon window screens to prevent falls. To childproof your windows, window guards come in a variety of styles and colors. Depending on the type of windows you have, you may also want to use latches and locks. Remove furniture from in front of windows so it cannot be climbed on, and always supervise children around open windows.
Safeguard Outdoor Grilling Tools
Like gardening supplies, grilling tools are also sharp and dangerous for children to be around. Never leave a child unattended near a hot grill, and keep all forks, knives, and other utensils out of their reach. Grilling meals outdoors is an exciting part of the spring season, as long as children are kept out of harm’s way.
Be Ready for Bee Stings
The world needs bees to pollinate all of the beautiful flowers you see in bloom this spring, but bees can cause harm as well as good. To prevent attracting bees where you don’t want them, you can encourage children to avoid fragrances and brightly colored clothing. Bees love to climb into cans of soda and onto food left out, so clean up promptly after backyard picnics. Wearing shoes, long pants, and hats are also good ways to prevent bee stings in the yard.
Practice Pool Safety
As swimming season approaches, children with backyard pools will be very anxious to get in the water and splash around. However, a child left unsupervised can drown in a matter of minutes, which is a scary thought for parents and staff members. Ensure that walls or fences enclose the pool area, and utilize a pool cover when it’s not in use. Window, door, and pool alarms can also help keep toddlers from wandering off to the pool unnoticed.
Prepare for Hazardous Weather
In many parts of the country, tornados are prevalent in the springtime. It’s important for everyone in the household, including children and staff members, to understand the basics of emergency weather preparedness and how to seek shelter. Show children where the emergency kit is and how to use it. It is also beneficial to practice emergency weather drills so children know where to go during a storm and how to stay calm.
Educate and Train Domestic Staff
Fortunately, all of these hazards can be avoided with a little awareness and understanding of what safety issues children are prone to in the spring season. This is one of the many reasons why it’s so important to work with a trusted domestic employment agency, like Household Staffing International, and hire domestic staff members to keep kids safe.
Contact us today at 212-683-7722 to discuss the qualities and traits that are most important to you so we can find your perfect match!