Warning! Your back yard might be hazardous to your child’s health. Or so says an article titled “11 Hidden Hazards in Your Backyard,” by Betty S. Wong in the June issue of child magazine.
From barbecues to gardening tools to ticks, the back yard can be a gauntlet of trouble if you aren’t careful.
According to Wong, nearly 5,000 children ages 14 and under are treated in emergency rooms every year for grill-related injuries.
Some pointers for keeping children safe from grill accidents include keeping your tyke away from the grill. Hot metal hurts. Store lighter fluid, matches, charcoal, electric starters and cooking utensils out of the reach of kids. Have a fire extinguisher at hand. And don’t let your kids touch raw food.
Other possible back-yard hazards include gardening tools, such as lawnmowers, which injure 20,000 people each year. Swimming pools are another hazard: Kids can drown in as little as an inch of water.
Getting that vacation organized
Shoulders back, head up. It’s time to plan that summer vacation. And with all of the changes in travel, planning with military precision is a must.
If you aren’t a drill sergeant by nature, just read “Modern Family Vacation” by Malia Boyd in the June/July issue of child magazine and you will have your family marching in step in no time flat. (Check out www.child.com.)
Expedia.com CEO Richard Barton, a parent and frequent traveler, has put together the following suggestions. Not surprisingly, one of Barton’s suggestions is letting the Internet do the walking before your legs do.
Barton suggests taking time to browse on the Internet. While planning your itinerary, use online aids such as photos and virtual tours to get a glimpse of your potential destination.
It’s a good idea, he says, to “micro-manage” your flights. When traveling with kids, remember their biological clock and time-zone changes might not mix well.
Also, look into packages that include air fare, car rental and hotels. One-stop shopping might save you time when you get to your destination.
Sites include www.smarterliving.com, www. familytravel.com, www.tinytravelers.com, www.fodors.com and www.cyberrentals.com.
