Outdoor child safety – in pictures | Raising Children Network

Keep swimming pools safe with safety barriers that meet Australian standards. Cover birdbaths and ponds with wire mesh, or leave them empty until your child is at least five.
A young child can drown in 5 cm of water. Drowning can take less than a minute and is silent. For safe fun with water, always watch your child – even if he can swim.
Pedestrian safety means holding your child’s hand near cars, even if you’re just near your driveway. Double-check where your child is before reversing – he should be in your car or in plain sight with an adult.

Find safe places for your child to play outside. For playground fun without tears, always keep an eye on your child as she plays. Or better still, play with her!
Safety in the sun is as simple as sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses, from 10 am to 3 pm from September to April, when the UV radiation is strongest.
Dangerous plants often have a strong smell, milky sap, red berries or self-sown seeds. Fence them off or remove them until your child knows not to eat them (usually around three years).

Lock your shed, garage and storage boxes. Also lock away hand tools, and keep lawnmowers, chainsaws and power tools out of reach.
When using tools, make sure your child is out of the way. Unplug tools when taking a break. Keep household poisons like paints and solvents out of reach and out of sight.
Keep emergency numbers near the phone. You might like to read more about making your home safe for your child.

Safety outdoors