Guide to Child Safety Improvements for the Garage

The garage is often one of the most dangerous places in a home for children, and often a place that is not childproofed. Whether you are a soon to be parent, or already have a child, or you are a grandparent and your grandkids visit you, an important part of ensuring children will be safe in your home is to take steps to minimize the safety risks that garages often pose for children. There are 10 steps you can take to improve the safety of your garage for children. The garage is often a pass through for many families that park their cars in the garage or that use the garage to store bikes, sports equipment and even household supplies. Here are 10 safety improvements you can make to minimize risk to children that enter your garage:

1. Install a Garage Door Opener that has a Motion Sensor- you should check your garage door to see if it stops and opens up if it picks up a motion underneath it when it is opening. In your garage door does not stop and open, you should install a garage door opener that has a motion sensor to minimize the risk of a child or pet from getting caught in the door and injured.

2. Establish a Clear, Clutter-Free Path to Walk through the Garage- in order to minimize the risk of a child or adult from falling or tripping over items in a garage it is important to keep your garage floor or a wide walkway clear.

3. Secure Storage Units or Furniture to the Wall- to ensure your child’s safety from falls or furniture falling on top of him/her you should secure your cabinets or other furniture that is in the garage to the wall with wall brackets.

4. Remove all Chemicals, Bug Sprays, Lawn Products, Paints and Household Cleaners to an Outside Locked Shed or to Locked Upper Cabinet- hazardous chemicals, pesticides, and household cleaners are dangerous for children, as they may breathe them in, swallow it and play with it, all of which could harm them or poison a child. All chemicals should be safely stored in a locked outside shed or a top cabinet that is locked.

5. Move all Tools and Sharp Objects to Top Storage Bins or Locked Cabinets- make sure a child cannot reach sharp or dangerous tools by putting them in your locked shed, or in a locked cabinet that is out of reach.

6. Lawn and Garden Equipment should be moved to a Shed or Tested to make sure it cannot be turned on- make sure your child cannot turn on your lawnmower, power tools, weed whacker, or other lawn equipment. (if your lawnmower has a key-it should be removed and put out of reach)

7. Electrical Outlets should be covered with Childproof Outlet Covers- to remove the chance a child could play with an electrical outlet and get electrocuted, you should put outlet covers in each outlet.

8. Install Rubber or Industrial Foam Garage Flooring- garage floors can often be slick and children can fall and hurt themselves. If you floor is slick you can purchase rubber flooring (if you park your car in the garage), or purchase industrial foam that is made for garage floors to make the garage floor safer for children.

9. Put Away Car Keys- make sure your car keys are in your house, out of reach of your child so that he/she cannot start your car that may be housed in the garage in order to make sure your kids are safe from exhaust fumes.

10. Put Children’s bicycles, sports equipment and safety gear near the ground and within reach of your child- if your child cannot reach his/her bike or equipment your child may try and climb to reach it and could fall. Move equipment to your child’s level so that he/she will not try to reach equipment above their height.

By making the above changes you are ensuring that your garage is a safe place for your child. It is recommended that you take every precaution possible to ensure the safety of your children in your home and in your garage.