Good home safety practices include every corner of your property. Take a walk around your yard looking for ways to protect your family.

1. Make your pool or spa safer. Here are a few tips that homeowners with pools or spas can follow to help reduce the risk of drowning or injury.

Establish rules for pool use.

• Make sure children using the pool or spa are properly supervised by an adult.
• Make sure you know if any of the individuals using your pool, especially the children, are non-swimmers.
• Make sure children using the pool or spa are properly supervised by an adult.
• Make sure kids do not run or play games near the pool.
• Keep toys, particularly tricycles or wheeled toys, away from the pool or spa. Children playing with these could accidentally fall into the water.
• Keep electrical appliances, such as televisions and stereos, away from the pool or spa so that they cannot be knocked into the water accidentally. Extension cords should not be used around pools.
• Keep lifesaving equipment, such as a life ring and a first aid kit nearby. Consider learning CPR and other first-aid techniques if you own a pool.

Follow your community's building regulations regarding the type and height of fencing surrounding your pool area.

• Any gates leading to the pool area should have a self-closing and self-latching mechanism to prevent unauthorized entry.
• Be sure to drain standing water from the surface of a pool cover, as small children can drown in even the smallest amount of water.
• Make sure spa and hot tub drain covers meet today's standards for preventing your body, limbs, and hair from becoming trapped.
• If a drain cover is missing or broken, shut down the pool, spa, or hot tub until the cover is replaced - Don't ever play with the drain.
• Make sure an emergency shut-off switch for the pump is installed nearby and that it is easily accessible. Everyone should know where these switches are located and how to use them.
• Always follow the manufacturer's directions for the safe installation, use, and maintenance of pool and spa covers. The cover should always be completely removed before using the pool or spa to avoid the possibility of someone becoming trapped under the cover.

Source: nsf.org

2. Prevent slips, trips and falls. Inspecting your yard for the most frequent causes of common accidents will protect your family and guests.

Ensure that:

• Stairs, walkways and driveways are free of cracks, clutter, dirt and moss.
• Areas of uneven concrete pavement are promptly repaired.
• Walks and entryways are adequately illuminated at night.
• Stairways include stable handle rails that meet local building codes.
• Doorway thresholds/weather stripping are in good repair.
• Bushes or tree limbs are not obstructing walkways.
• Fences are intact and without gaps.
• Retaining walls are free of cracks.