Dive into fun this summer, but check your home insurance policy first. (Photo: iStockphoto)
Now that the weather is getting warmer, many of us are gearing up our backyards for entertaining and good times, adding summer tools of the trade like gas grills, swing sets, trampolines and swimming pools. (In my case, the pool will be the kiddie variety, which I can fill up with the garden hose.)
That's all well and good, but if any of these items are on your summer shopping lists, be sure to check and update your home insurance policies before the fun begins. These summer staples can be sources of good, clean fun, but they are also responsible for many an accident and could cost a homeowner who is underinsured dearly.
Fire up the grill, not your house
For example, on average for each year between 2003 and 2006, grills, hibachis or barbecues caused 7,900 home fires, 10 civilian deaths, 120 reported injuries and $80 million in direct property damage, according to the National Fire Protection Association. (It's fine to barbecue like celebrity chef Bobby Flay this summer, but I'd put the grill on the patio -- and a safe distance from the house -- instead of on the deck.)
If you're thinking of getting a trampoline, consult with your insurance company first. Many companies don't cover trampolines because of the high risk of personal injury associated with them. (As for me, I'll skip the trampoline. While I loved them as a kid, the risk is too scary for me, now that I am a mom.)
Swing set safety
Obama girls Sasha and Malia got their own swing sets (click here to see a news video of Sasha and Malia's new swing set) on the White House South Lawn this year, but these playthings come with their own hazards, especially if they are installed incorrectly. About 50,000 children go to the emergency room each year because of accidents on home playground equipment, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
For instance, Jon of TV reality show, Jon & Kate Plus Eight, installed a swing set for his sextuplets and twins this year on his own at his new house in Wernersville, Pa., in a recent episode, but I'd never attempt that myself, since it's imperative that swing sets are properly anchored to the ground (either with concrete or with anchoring devices).
Summer how-to
Finally, while we all want to protect the value of our homes, personal safety and the safety of our loved ones is paramount.
There are several places you can go online to get summer safety tips, including grill safety tips from the NFPA, pool and spa suggestions from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, trampoline usage advice from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and swing set installation guidelines from the National Safety Council.—Lauren Baier Kim