How to Check Your Garage for Child Safety
A report by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission revealed that each year, garage doors are responsible for around 30,000 injuries. Of these, a disturbing number of the reported accidents involve children. These statistics make your garage a place where child safety is a critical concern.
Of course, kids might keep their bicycle or other sporting equipment stored in the garage, making it impossible to declare the area a completely kid-free zone. Instead, you should work toward making your garage as safe as possible.
Inspect Your Garage Door
Garage doors are the biggest injury culprit. Kids can get a finger caught between moving parts, or a failed reversal system could let the door come crashing down. To prevent the most common injuries, implement a few basic precautions for improved garage door safety.
- Test your reversal system early and often. If it is in good working order, you dramatically reduce the risk of an accident.
- Don’t let your kids play with the remote or spend time in the garage unattended. Children might lean against the door or forget to pay attention when the door is in motion. A quick eye and action from parents can prevent a trip to the ER.
- Know how to operate the manual system. An automated garage door should stop if it can’t close completely or has trouble opening. When that happens, you need to be able to shut off the automated system and handle the problem manually.
- Have everything professionally inspected. Yes, you can run some basic tests, but the best way to avoid accidents is by having your garage door inspected regularly by a qualified expert. They can identify worn parts or systems on the verge of a breakdown.
Store Hazardous Tools or Chemicals With Care
The garage door might be the most likely culprit for injuries, but there are plenty of other potential hazards. Your garage could contain:
- Spilled oil
- Caustic chemicals
- Power tools
- Heavy machinery
- Construction equipment
To avoid issues, think about installing locking cages to secure chemical compounds. Regularly hose down the floor of the garage to prevent a slick buildup that can lead to falls. Keep power tools locked up or out of reach. Careful attention to layout and accessibility can help you improve your garage safety and keep dangerous equipment out of reach for small hands. Once you’ve had the chance to remove any clearly present hazards from your garage, call Hill Country Overhead Door to have a San Antonio garage door repair expert inspect your door. We can help keep your garage safe, so that your kids can enjoy their time in and around the garage without causing you worry.