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I’m a parent of two adorable children. I’m biased. Like many parents of very young kids, I’ve spent a lot of time and dollars attempting to keep my children out of harm’s way. There’s the obvious ones such as putting plastic covers over the outlets, and trying to lock curious hands away from drawers and cabinets. Note, I said ‘try’. However, I’ve noticed that parents sometimes overlook a very large and potentially dangerous place in their homes that requires an extra amount of attention – and that’s the garage.

A garage may have rakes, bikes, even sharp objects just sitting out. While keeping a tidy garage is important, knowing that the garage door is the largest moving object in a house, and if not properly installed or maintained, can be very dangerous.

In our house, we have a rule that no one is allowed in the garage when the door opener is in operation. I would recommend that every parent should institute this rule – and for adults to live by this rule as well as an example.

Our friends at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the National Safety Council, and the Industry Coalition for Automatic Garage Door Opener Safety agree and have offered some other tips for everyone, not just parents, to remember around the garage.

Never stand or walk under a moving door. Never play “beat the door.” Yeah, and I’ve had to do it too (which is another convenience of the Bluetech Automation iOpener™) but it’s dangerous and can result in severe injury or even death. Even Han Solo, Harrison Ford, got seriously hurt by a garage door recently and was forced to miss multiple weeks of shooting Star Wars Episode VII. Teach kids to never to play under or near an open garage door.

Learn how to open your garage emergency release and practice using it. It’s good to know in an emergency or if the power goes out.

Don’t let your kids play with remotes or the iOpener app. These aren’t toys, and should be out of bounds for the kids.

The push button and key pad entry should be at about 5 feet/1.5 meters from the floor, and away from all moving parts. Also, mount your buttons where you can see the door operating.

When you do use your button, keypad, clicker, or your smartphone with the iOpener app, make sure that you keep the door in sight until it stops moving.

Other rules to consider adding when talking to your kids about garage safety are to explain to them that you should keep fingers and hands away form section joints, hinges, the tracks and springs – pretty much all the door parts. Also remember that injuries can come from doors that aren’t equipped with automatic openers too.

With just a little bit of straightening, some planned maintenance, a whole lot of leading by example, and a few talks with your kids about being safe in the garage, will help keep everyone safe and sound.