Every year, thousands of kids are sent to the emergency room with broken bones, sprained ankles, and other serious injuries. When many people think about these injuries to children, they often picture playground equipment or sports accidents. But in reality, a large percentage of these injuries occur right in our own front yards and backyards due to a hazard that is often overlooked but is just as dangerous: an uneven lawn.
Uneven lawns pose a serious hazard for kids, who are often running and playing without paying attention to where they’re going because they’re having so much fun. As a parent, it’s important to be aware of the dangers that uneven lawns pose to your kids.
Here are some dangers of uneven lawns that parents should know about:
- Uneven ground can trip up kids who are running and playing
- Holes and divots in the lawn can cause kids to twist or break their ankles
- Uneven lawns can also be a breeding ground for snakes and other pests
- If there’s water on the ground, it can create a slip and fall hazard
- Overgrown grass can hide obstacles like rocks and sticks, which can trip kids up
If you have an uneven lawn, it’s important to take steps to fix it. Otherwise, you could be putting your kids at risk for serious injuries.
Here are 5 ways that leveling your lawn can help keep kids safe from injury:
1. Remove Trip Hazards
Uneven patches of grass, raised tree roots, and other obstacles can be tripping hazards for kids. By leveling your lawn, you can remove these hazards and help keep kids safe.
Scenario: Your child is running around the yard and trips on a raised tree root, leading to a fall. A leveled lawn would have prevented this fall and the potential injury that could have come with it.
2. Improve Visibility
Overgrown grass can obstruct visibility, making it difficult for kids to see potential hazards. By trimming your grass and leveling the lawn, you can improve visibility and help keep kids safe.
Scenario: Your child is playing in the yard and doesn’t see the hole that’s been dug by the dog. He falls into the hole and hurts his leg. If the grass had been trimmed and the lawn had been leveled, he would have seen the hole and avoided it.
3. Reduce the Risk of Falls
An uneven lawn can cause kids to fall, leading to serious injuries. By leveling the lawn, you can reduce the risk of falls
Scenario: Your child is playing on the swing and tries to jump off. She doesn’t realize that the ground is uneven and she trips, leading to a fall. If the ground had been level, she would have been able to safely jump off the swing without falling.
4. Avoid Pests
Snakes, bugs, and other pests love to hide in tall grass. By leveling your lawn, you can help avoid these pests and keep kids safe.
Scenario: Your child is playing in the yard and steps on a snake. If the grass had been trimmed and the lawn had been leveled, he would have seen the snake and avoided it.
5. Improve Drainage
Poor drainage can lead to standing water, which can create a slip and fall hazard. By leveling your lawn, you can help improve drainage and avoid this hazard.
Scenario: It’s been raining all day and the ground is wet. Your child is playing in the yard and she slips on a puddle, leading to a fall. If the lawn had been leveled, the water would have drained away and she wouldn’t have slipped.
The summer already comes with its own set of dangers for kids – from high temperatures to bug bites. An uneven lawn can be just as dangerous as a pool or open body of water this summer, and it’s important to be aware of the dangers that they pose to your kids. Accurate Lawn Leveling can help you create a safe environment for your kids by leveling your lawn and removing potential hazards. Contact us today to schedule an estimate.