The garage is one of the most versatile areas of the home, but it can also be one of the most dangerous–especially for children–if you’re not careful. There can be many hazardous items in the garage, such as chemicals, sharp tools, and much more. If you’d like to make your garage “kid-proof,” read on to learn how.
Teach your children that the garage door is NOT a toy. It’s very common: lots of kids get a kick out of using the garage door remote to make it go up and down and up and down ad nauseam. Of course, the garage door is not a toy, but rather a heavy piece of machinery that can seriously injure someone if it is used improperly. Impart to your kids and anyone else who needs to know that the garage door is not meant to be played with.
Keep chemicals out of reach. Many people store hazardous chemicals (both cleaning and automobile-related), paint, and other dangerous materials in their garage, but any toxic or should be kept in locked storage containers high up on a top shelf.
Keep tools organized and out of reach. If your garage is also your workstation, it is imperative to store each tool or piece of machinery/equipment safely after you’re done using it. The same goes for any weaponry such as guns–if you keep them in the garage, ensure they are in a locked safe out of reach of any child. Obviously, the more difficult you make it for your child to find/reach something dangerous, the lower the likelihood that your child could have an accident.
Pay attention to how you store and stack items. If your household is in the habit of keeping recycled items such as newspapers, avoid stacking or storing them in a way where they could fall on a small child. Store bikes safely as well–do not simply stack the next to each other in a manner where any disturbance (for example, a child trying to extract her bike from the middle of the jumble) that could cause all the bikes to teeter and fall in one direction. If you suspend anything from the ceiling with ropes, such as kayaks, check the ropes often to ensure they are strong and tied correctly.
Lastly, make sure you’ve got a perfectly functional garage door. To ensure this, call our experts at Ponderosa Garage Doors & Repair, at (503)-730-0444 or toll-free at (866) 625-9606. We provide a wide array of garage door services, such as garage door installation, repairs and maintenance, and openers. We look forward to hearing from you, and stay safe!