Childproofing in The Garage

Your garage is an integral part of your home, and although it should be off-limits to your children, there are times when even the best safeguarding tactics will not stop a determined child. Making sure that your garage is safe for children is a worthwhile task that takes some time and careful consideration.

• Create a workroom that is locked, or a caged-in area where you can store all of your hazardous materials.
• Check to see if your garage door has an electric eye to keep it from closing should a child be underneath. If it is not equipped with an electric eye, test the door by putting a cardboard box under the door and hit the button to close the garage. If the box is crushed, replace the door with a safe one. Keep all openers and buttons out of the reach of children.
• When you park your vehicle in the garage, be sure to lock it. Never let your children play in the car; you never know when it could slip out of gear.
• Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors inside the garage.
• Remove any nails, staples, or other sharp objects from the walls. If you need to hang tools or anything else from the walls, consider installing rubber-coated hooks high enough on the wall to keep them out of the reach of children.
• Be sure to store all power tools higher than your children can reach, and install plug locks on all of the electrical cords.
• Never leave your ladders accessible to small children. Consider suspending them from the ceiling.
• Dispose of any and all old refrigerators, freezers, and trunks. Small children can become trapped inside and suffocate.
• Place locking safety caps, or swivel covers on all outlets to ensure that your child will not be able to insert anything into the openings.