June 19, 2015

Five Tips to Childproof Your Garage

Child safety

Kids are always exploring, and while you’ve probably made sure your home is childproofed, you might not have done so with your garage. However, there are many dangers lurking there, and even if your children are with you, they can still get into trouble in the blink of an eye.

The following five tips will help you see the dangers that are in your garage, and what you can do to protect your children.

The car

Vehicles pose a variety of dangers. Your kids could lock themselves in on a hot day, get into the trunk, or even get run over due to blind spots. All of these are potentially deadly situations, but there are a few things you can do to childproof:

  • Always take your keys out of the ignition and hang them where children can’t reach.
  • Make sure you lock your car, even though it’s in the garage. This will make sure young children can’t get in and lock the doors.
  • Consider adding a rearview camera to your vehicle to make sure you can always see what is behind you before moving the car.
  • Consider purchasing a lift for your vehicle – it will keep the kids out, and give you a lot more space.

Overhead garage doors

Garage doors can cause serious injury or death if your child happens to be under it when it closes. Childproof this by:

  • Keeping remotes and openers out of the reach of children
  • Ensuring the automatic reverse feature works properly, and scheduling a repair if it doesn’t
  • Conducting period tests to make sure it is opening and closing properly

Tools, lawn and other equipment

Children love to play with tools and lawn equipment, but they can easily be cut or suffer serious injuries when doing so. Sports equipment can also fall over on top of small children. Keep the kiddos safe with the following tips:

  • Teach children from a young age that workbenches with saws and other dangerous tools are always off limits.
  • Use storage shelves or lockers that lock or are at least out of reach to improve safety
  • Install pegboards for smaller items, but make sure there’s nothing small children can climb on nearby

Chemicals

Hazardous chemicals such as cleaning supplies, gasoline and other vehicle fluids can make children very sick or even kill them if ingested. They can also spill and cause burns or falls that can cause injury. Childproof chemicals by:

  • Following all storage directions on the labels
  • Ensuring all containers have childproof lids, and that they are attached securely after use
  • Keeping all types of chemicals in locked cabinets or lockers

Containers

Most of us store items in the garage in storage containers, often stacking them several high. Young children can be injured if these fall over. Any other types of storage, such as freezers or coolers can trap children inside as well. Childproof your garage storage by:

  • Making sure that all coolers or freezers are locked so children can’t open them
  • Ensuring any stacks of containers are sturdy, and don’t allow children to climb on them
  • Installing locks on large containers if necessary to keep kids out
  • Keeping any water storage containers turned upside down to prevent children from falling into them and drowning.

The garage is an interesting place for children, especially if they don’t spend much time out there. Following these tips for childproofing your garage will protect them from accidents and injuries, and give you added peace of mind that your children are always safe. If your garage door needs maintenance, or is a safety hazard, contact us for a free quote today!

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