The emergence of warm weather will send children flocking to local playgrounds in droves, and hospitals will see a surge in playground related injuries.
Playground Safety Tips
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), more than 200,000 children visit hospital emergency rooms because of playground injuries each year – and approximately 15 will die. But there are things parents can do to keep kids safe at the park.
- Make sure that children wear the appropriate safety gear when riding bicycles and roller skating (helmets, knee-pads, etc.).
- Avoid letting children wear drawstrings, hoods and loose-fitting clothes around the head and neck area, as these items elevate the risks of strangulation if they are accidentally caught on play structures.
- Always provide close supervision to children when they are on the playground.
- Make sure children are only allowed to use age-appropriate play equipment.
- Parents should avoid letting children wear shoes with sling-backs or open toes. Tennis shoes with slip-proof bottoms are a better choice.
- Make sure that all play equipment is in good repair, and anchored safely to the ground.
- Since most playground injuries occur as a result of falls to the surface, parents should make sure the ground is covered with materials that will cushion a fall such as mulch, sand or rubber before allowing children to play.
- Public sandboxes can be a breeding ground for hazards and bacteria, so it’s best if children are not allowed to play in them.
- Playground structures are riddled with germs, so it's imperative that children wash their hands after using play equipment - especially before eating.
- Keeping kids safe on the playground includes protecting them from the sun’s damaging rays. Children should dress in light colored clothing and all exposed areas of the skin should be covered with sunscreen.
- Don’t let children play in areas where visible hazards are present (broken glass, excessive amounts of trash, needles, stray animals, etc.).
Additional Playground Safety Rules
The following is a list of rules that parents should reiterate to children when they are playing on the playground.
- Don't walk directly in front of, or behind a swing set.
- Don’t try to jump from a moving swing.
- One child per swing.
- Don’t run on concrete surfaces.
- Hold on to handles and rails when using climbing structures.
- Avoid going up the slide the wrong way.
- Don’t talk to strangers.
Parents should report any visible hazards to the agency that is responsible for properly maintaining the park and playground structures.
References:
National Program for Playground Safety. Accessed 3-25-08
National Safety Council. Accessed 3-25-08
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