The Perils of Patios

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy wikimedia

There’s nothing like a summer barbecue or pool party to entertain young and old alike.  That’s the upside of having a backyard patio.  The downside is that it’s also one of the places that’s most likely to involve an accident likely to send you or yours to the hospital.  Before you, one of your kids or a family member winds up in the emergency room, here are a few facts of which you need to be aware concerning patios.

      1.      Slip Sliding Away

When it rains in Florida it pours, right?  No sooner does the rain ease up when everybody scampers back onto the patio.  Wet concrete or wet pavers can be nearly as slippery as a banana peel.  This could lead a family member or guest to take a tumble that could result in an injury.  (If a guest is injured, it could also result in a lawsuit.) The solution to preventing a slip and fall is to make sure the patio is completely dry before you allow anyone on it.  Other than waiting for the Florida sun to work its magic, another way to quickly dry the patio is to break out the leaf blower and use it to push puddles off the patio and speed the evaporation process along.

      2.      The Stumble Bum

Some people are more accident prone than others.  They’re the types that always seem to trip over the leg of the coffee table or your slumbering pooch only to wind up facedown on the carpet.  The problem with patios is they aren’t carpeted.  Do a faceplant here and your accident-prone guest could wind up with a broken nose.  While you can’t guarantee the absolute safety of everyone who ventures out your back door, you can do several things to make your patio less perilous.  Make sure there are no toys lying around to trip guests.  If you do have a dog, the best way to keep them from getting under foot is to rig a cable chain that you can clip your pooch’s collar to whenever guests are around.  Police the area to make sure it’s swept clear of leaves and sticks that a recent storm could have blown down.  Last but not least, make sure there are no other obvious obstructions and impediments that could trip a guest up.

     

Image courtesy flickr

3.      Kids do the darnedest things

If you have little ones out and about, chances are it’s only a matter of time before they either run onto the patio or hit and/or throw something that winds up landing on the patio.  When I was little, my sister wound up going to the ER to get stitched up when she ran straight through the closed sliding glass door which she erroneously assumed was open.  Another time, my brother beaned one of my dad’s friends when his fastball sailed over the catcher’s head.  Boy did my brother catch hell for that.  Since kids have boundless energy coupled with only a modicum of control, the bottom line is if you want to keep their enthusiasm from causing a catastrophe, you need to lay down the law when it comes to never running on nor throwing toward the patio.

      4.      The BBQ from Hell

Backyard barbecues are also a rite of passage every summer.  There’s nothing like a hotdog or hamburger cooked over an open flame.  The problem is the open flame can easily cause a catastrophe that can soon require the intervention of the fire department.  Before you wind up setting anything or anyone on fire when you grill, you need to take several precautions.  First and foremost, make sure everyone but the chef is clear of the flames.  If you use a gas grill, you need to make sure that your connection to the propane tank is solid and the lines leading to the burners are leak-free.  All it takes is a tiny hole in a line to cause your barbecue to go up in a ball of flame.  If you use charcoal, the secret is to either get match-light coals or to let your charcoal soak for 20-minutes before you light the grill.  Then have everyone stand clear of the barbecue for another 20-minutes until the flames die down and the grill is ready to go.  I also strongly suggest you buy a small fire extinguisher to keep near any kind of grill for safety sake.

Image courtesy Pexels

      5.      Fireworks Go Boom

With the Fourth of July just around the corner, need I point out that if you do procure fireworks of any kind that you need to keep them well away from people and property.  Every year the fire department gets called out to put out fires and treat burns caused by people who mishandle fireworks.  While no Fourth of July celebration would be complete without fireworks, the last place you want to wind up when the show is over is in the ER.

      6.      The Peril of Pools

While a backyard swimming pool can be a joy to behold, it can also quickly become a scene of tragedy.  Not only do swimming pools increase a homeowner’s liability risk, every year children and adults accidentally drown in pools.  If you have a pool or are thinking of having one put in, you need to make sure it and your friends and family are secure when they use it.  Never leave the gate open and always make sure your kids and your guests aren’t left alone in your pool.  Remember when I pointed out how slippery your patio can get when wet?  All it takes is one slip and fall next to a pool for a tragedy to take place.  Speaking of pools, make sure you police the patio and backyard for pools of water that can breed mosquitos, some of which can carry West Nile Virus or other pathogens.

      7.      Brush with Death

While most of the shrubs and flowering plants in your backyard are non-toxic, you need to be aware that there are a number that can be deadly if ingested by your children or your pets. The American Poison Control Center reports that more than 68,000 people per year are poisoned by plants in the US.  Plants like Lantana, Castor Bean, Poinsettia and Lilies can prove toxic if swallowed, as can many forms of wild mushrooms.  If you suspect your child or pet has ingested a potentially perilous plant, call the Poison Control Center immediately at 800-222-1222

By taking a few precautions and using common sense, you and yours can enjoy the peace and tranquility of your backyard patio for many years to come. 

Catherine Powell is the owner of A Plus All Florida, Insurance in Orange Park, Florida.  To find out more about saving money on all your insurance needs, check out her website at http://aplusallfloridainsuranceinc.com/