Health Risks in your backyard

Planning on a staycation this summer?

Great Idea (of course), but just as you would want to get your car’s oil changed before embarking on the family vacation, you might want to address some of these backyard health risks before starting your summer staycation. Here are the top 8 back yard health risks as identified by Winnie Yu of MSNBC.com.

Dangerous Grill Placement – make sure your grill is not placed near flammable material like low-hanging tree branches, deck rails or house siding.
Toxic Plants – 68,000 people a year are poisoned by plants so make sure you do some research before picking that new plant or flower for the garden bed.
Tiny pools of water – it doesn’t take much water at all to create a mosquito breeding ground. Do a weekly check of buckets,pails, fountains and birdbaths that might be collecting stagnant water around the yard.
Not-quite-extinguished charcoal – it doesn’t take much eat from a still-warm charcoal to start a fire. Make sure you soak coals with cold water and toss them in a metal trash to minimize your potential fire risk.
Unfenced pool – the dangers of a unfenced backyard pool are obvious so make sure you install a 5 foot high, 4 sided fense to keep the kids and pets safe from accidental drownings.
Pesticide residue – even in small amounts, the poisons that kills plant-eating insects can make you seriously sick. Use the power of the food chain and reduce your pesiticide use by attracting birds that eat those flower loving bugs.
Weather-worn deck – warped decks are hard to navigate and easy to trip on, which is why you should water-proof your deck every 2 to 3 years.
Too-short ladder – when you try and over extend your reach, you increase the chances of you and your ladder becoming top-heavy and falling over. Take the extra time and get the right ladder for the right job.

Thanks to Winnie Yu at MSNBC.com for highlighting these dangers to safely enjoying your backyard staycation!

8 health risks in your own backyard – More health news- msnbc.com