It's the summertime so go outside and have fun! But the fun that comes with the sunshine also comes with a whole new set of risks. If you’re thinking of entertaining outdoors this summer, read on for four important things to keep in mind during outdoor parties.
1. Barbecues
One of the most fun summertime activities is having a barbecue with your friends. You get to enjoy delicious food and the communal experience of cooking it. Just keep in mind that a barbecue presents several hazards that you need to prepare for in order to keep everyone safe. The most obvious risk of the grill is that it is an open fire. To make sure that no one gets hurt by the flame, make sure that you keep it at least 3 meters from any structure, and that children stay more than 3 meters away. Keep a spray bottle of water near for a minor flareup, and a fire extinguisher handy in case the fire really gets out of control. Another risk of a grill is carbon monoxide inhalation. Grills let off carbon monoxide as they burn, so you want to be sure to use it in a well-ventilated area–never inside. One final risk of using your barbecue is food-borne illnesses. Serving undercooked meat is a good way to make everyone sick. Make sure your meat is cooked all the way through, and that the utensils you use to touch raw meat do not also touch the cooked meat.
2. Pools
Pools are a blessing on a hot day. They allow you to cool down, get exercise, and soak up the sun for a tan, but they also pose a lot of risks. The number one risk of swimming pools is accidental drowning. When kids or inexperienced swimmers are around the pool, make sure there is a sober adult around who is always out of the pool paying attention. Having an informal “lifeguard” can save someone’s life if he notices someone struggling. Also, swimming pools create wet environments, which increase the risk of injury from slipping and falling. Make a “no running around the pool” rule and enforce it. Finally, keep a gated fence around the pool and lock it while people are not swimming. You want to make sure that no one, particularly children, are able to get into (or fall into) the pool while no one is around to notice.
3. Outdoor Play Equipment
Kids love to play outside, and play equipment like trampolines, swing sets, or slides ensure a good time. While these outdoor toys can be great fun, they also pose a lot of danger to kids. Trampolines can be extremely dangerous for kids, particularly if too many children are jumping at once. The dangers include jumping into one another and causing injury, jumping off the trampoline and sustaining an injury, or landing inappropriately and causing injury to a neck or limb. To avoid trampoline risks, make sure that only one person jumps at a time. Also, install protective, shock-absorbing padding around the trampoline to help limit the severity of an accidental tumble. Also, make sure the trampoline is a safe distance away from any other structures, like trees or fences. Swing sets, while not as dangerous as trampolines, also pose their own set of risks to children. In order to protect kids from injury in case they slip off, install protective padding around the swing set. This should extend about 2 meters around the swing set in all directions.
4. Glass Bottles
When entertaining in the summer, it’s common to serve cold, refreshing beverages, like beer, to guests. Serving drinks in glass bottles creates several risks for party-goers, though. Having a lot of glass bottles around is always dangerous, but if there is a pool involved, people often place the bottles on the ground around it, which heightens the chance of someone knocking the bottle over and stepping on it (often with bare feet). If you’re serving beverages at your summer party, opt to serve them in cans or plastic bottles. This can eliminate the risk of severe wounds when you have a lot of barefoot people around who aren’t paying close attention to their environment.
If you like to entertain in the summer and want to make sure you’re protected in case of accidental injury or accident, contact us at 866-667-7640, or get a online Moose Jaw homeowners insurance quote.