Child Safety in the Home Garage

As anyone who has spent even a minimal amount of time around children knows, it only takes seconds for a tragedy to occur. Children, being inquisitive by nature, feel the need to explore the how’s and why’s of everything they see. Even the most conscientious among us possess the ability to absentmindedly create a dangerous situation. These hopefully rare moments are few, and the damage most times is negated by luck, Karma or whatever your personal belief system is. But a little planning as insurance never hurt. To begin with, children never should be allowed in a garage unsupervised. Never…Period. A garage is not a place to ride bikes on a rainy day, play games or catch ball. It has a practical function and should be designated as a location for such. This should be s strict, unwavering rule with no exceptions, even applied to adults. Children absorb just about everything they see, and to a large extent mimic the behavior of the people they look up to – like Parents. So to phrase it rather bluntly, apathetic dangerous parent, apathetic dangerous child at risk of injury. An Individual need not be a safety expert to greatly reduce the risk of accidents as applied to garage safety. A little forethought, a fair amount of work and the application of common sense can neutralize most of the garage dangers children may be exposed to. Here are a few easy tips:

Gasoline / Propane – Never store these inside a garage or house. The risks for fire or explosion are unnecessary, as they should be stored outside, away from buildings.

Cars – Always lock an automobile when parked, and ensure the parking brake is engaged. Never leave a car unattended on a car jack, close the hood when not present doing mechanical work on the engine. Walk around the car, and look under it before moving it.

Clean Spills – Immediately clean any spills in the garage. A good idea is to keep a bag of kitty litter handy for such situations. Remove any rags used to soak spills to the outside, spread them out to dry to prevent spontaneous combustion.

Label – Always keep household Chemicals in the original containers, as they have important safety information on the labeling. A very good investment would be a locking fireproof cabinet for storage, but at the least, keep these locked in a cabinet, drawer, etc.

Electrical Tools – Unplug tools after use, every time. Recess blades on table saws, lock sharp cutting tools out of sight.

Storage – Don’t turn your garage into a storage locker. If you need to store boxes or other items install shelving secured to wall studs to prevent tipping. Always place heaviest items on the bottom shelves.

Detectors – As many fires, explosions etc. start in the garage, install an extra smoke alarm and carbon dioxide detector. These are very affordable and are real lifesavers.

Practice Safety – This may be the most important item on this list. Remember when, as an adult, you are working in the garage you are usually being watched, by children. Handle power tools, cutting instruments, and electricity responsibly. No matter how pressed for time, set a good example of safety practices. Take the time to explain what you are doing and why, consider this a learning opportunity for children.

Fire Extinguisher – Make certain you have an approved fire extinguisher with a good expiration date. Teach all members of the household how to use it.

First Aid Kit – A garage is a very good place for a first aid kit. Keep it stocked at all time, and again, teach everyone basics of use.

Lighting – The garage should always be well lit for obvious reasons.

Clutter – The floor should be clean and clear of clutter at all times, removing any possible trip or fall hazards.

Garage Doors – Teach Children not to stand close to garage doors. A good practice is to honk the car horn once before opening the door with an automatic opener. Train Children to recognize this as a danger signal and to stand clear.

One of the best thing about kids is that once they learn something that has been explained in detail and reinforced by action they usually retain it for life. Take time to be a teacher, not just an authority figure.