Safe garden for children

The garden is a popular place for young children to explore and enjoy carefree hours of play. Splashing around, romping, snacking on fruit: All children love doing this in summer. But whether in your own garden or in the park around the corner, there can be a number of dangers lurking when playing outdoors that are often underestimated: poisonous plants, unsecured water points or a hot barbecue. These 12 tips will help you recognize sources of danger to protect your child from injury and poisoning.

Some popular garden plants are poisonous to children. These include laburnum, lily of the valley, autumn crocus, foxglove, deadly nightshade, yew, peony, angel's trumpet and monkshood. The flowers and colorful berries are particularly tempting for small children to touch or try. It is important to know this: The risk of poisoning depends on the quantity in relation to body weight, which is why young children are particularly at risk.

So check the plants in your garden and remove poisonous species while children are still young. Also familiarize your children with which fruits and plants can be dangerous in an age-appropriate manner. It is best to only allow your child to come into contact with plants that you know are safe.

In the event of poisoning:

• Keep calm
• Remove plant parts from the mouth and keep for determination
• Call an emergency doctor or poison control center
• Do not induce vomiting

Water exerts a magical attraction on children. That's what makes it so dangerous, because just a few centimetres of water can be life-threatening for small children. You should therefore surround garden ponds with a fence or cover them with a non-slip grid. Rain barrels should have a lid that children cannot lift. Paddling pools and pools require special supervision: never leave children unattended near them!

In public parks, keep an eye on whether there are fountains or unsecured water points nearby. For very young children, even low-lying water such as puddles can pose a danger.

A lot of tools are usually used in the garden. Large tools in particular, such as loppers, saws, lawn mowers, electric hedge trimmers and shredders, pose a serious danger to children. Do not leave these tools lying around. They should be locked away safely after use. Do not leave tools such as hand shears or rakes unattended and lock them in the shed, cellar or garage out of reach of children's hands after use.

As in the home, outdoor sockets should also be fitted with child safety devices. You should also protect the sockets with a residual current circuit breaker (RCCB). Remove extension leads and power cables immediately after use.

It makes sense to fence in the garden, especially when children are young. Fencing prevents children from running out into the street unnoticed and also protects them from uninvited guests. You should avoid sharp edges and pointed ends when fencing. The garden gate should close automatically and be lockable.

Most children love climbing trees. This promotes motor skills, courage, self-confidence and a connection to nature. But it's not without risk:

• Are the branches stable enough?
• How high can you climb?
• Does the child know their limits?
• Is the child wearing sturdy shoes?

Agree important rules with your child: Sturdy footwear is mandatory. No scarves or clothing with cords, ribbons and the like may be worn when climbing. You should check the climbing trees in advance for rotten branches. Do not allow small children in particular to climb without supervision.

Fertilizers, pesticides and other garden chemicals are very dangerous for children. Keep all packaging and containers in a locked cupboard or shed, out of the reach of children. Natural alternatives are much better than chemical pesticides, but beware: this does not automatically mean that they are completely safe. Always follow the safety and dosage instructions for herbal products too.

Barbecues with friends or a small campfire at the fire pit are popular leisure activities in the warm summer months. Make sure that children do not burn themselves. A mobile safety fence around the barbecue creates a clear safety zone. Children should also keep their distance after the barbecue until everything has cooled down completely. Keep lighters and firelighters in a childproof place. Candles, lanterns and torches should be placed in such a way that children cannot injure themselves or knock them over.

Swings, climbing frames, slides and trampolines are some of the most popular play equipment in the garden. When buying, it is worth looking out for recognized test marks such as the GS mark or TÜV certifications that confirm quality and safety. Anchor play equipment firmly to the ground when setting it up. Check regularly to ensure that nothing wobbles or wobbles. Screws must be tight, wooden play equipment must not have any splinters and moving parts should work.

Also important: Adjust the equipment regularly to your child's age and stage of development.

To prevent your child from accidentally falling into a basement light well, you should cover the wells with sturdy protective grids that can withstand the child's weight. Also think about similar depressions in the garden such as open manholes for rainwater or unsecured pits.

Small children have particularly sensitive skin. Every sunburn has long-term consequences for their skin health. If possible, shade the area where children prefer to be: for example, the sandpit.

Remember to apply sunscreen with a high sun protection factor to the skin before playing outdoors. A light T-shirt with long sleeves and a sun hat also protect against sunburn. For more tips on how to protect yourself and your family from sunburn, heatstroke and sunstroke in summer, read our article Sports in the heat.

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The garden is a wonderful habitat for many animals and insects. However, stings from wasps, bees and ticks can be dangerous. Keep a regular eye on whether wasps or bees are building a nest in your garden or around the house and, if this is the case, secure the area as far away as possible.

Sweet foods and drinks in particular attract wasps in midsummer. Therefore, always cover glasses and cups when outdoors, do not leave drinking bottles such as flasks without lids and do not drink from straws.

If you are stung by a wasp or bee, carefully remove the stinger if necessary and cool the area immediately. If you are stung in the eye, you should consult a doctor. If you suspect a sting in the mouth and throat, it is best to call 112 directly. As a first aid measure, it helps to suck on ice to cool the area - but do not give milk ice, as the lactose it contains promotes the formation of mucus, which can make breathing even more difficult.

Symptoms such as shortness of breath, dizziness, circulatory problems or a swollen throat can be signs of an allergic shock: In this case, call 112 immediately.

Scan your child for ticks every time they are outdoors. Long pants and closed shoes provide additional protection. You can find more information on tick protection here on our Familienportal.NRW.