Stay Safe on the Playground

April 25, 2019

Summer is on its way! Playgrounds are a popular spot for families when the weather is nice. Don’t let an injury keep your child from having fun. Keep your
child safe by following these guidelines from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Surfaces

Most playground injuries are caused by falls. Surfaces under playground equipment should be a rubber-like material or have nine to 12 inches of wood chips,
mulch, sand, or pea gravel extending at least six feet in all directions. Plus, look out for any tripping hazards, like exposed concrete footings,
tree stumps, and rocks. You’ll also want to avoid areas with broken glass, trash, or animal feces.

Damaged or Dangerous Equipment

Inspect the playground before you let your child play to make sure the equipment is in good condition. Avoid any equipment that has sharp points or edges,
pinch points, protruding bolt ends, open “S” hooks, or appears broken or damaged. Make sure that elevated surfaces have guardrails to prevent falls.
Plus, any structures higher than 30 inches should be spaced at least nine feet apart.

Strangulation Hazards

Spaces that could trap your child, such as openings in guardrails or between ladder rungs, should measure less than 3.5 inches, or more than nine inches.
Never let your child tie jump ropes, leashes or any other strings onto the equipment. Have your child take off any jackets with hoods or drawstrings,
jewelry, jump ropes, or bicycle helmets, all of which could get tangled on equipment.

Age-Appropriate Equipment

Equipment that doesn’t match your child’s size and ability could lead to injury. As a general rule, if your child can’t reach it himself, he shouldn’t
play on it.

Adult Supervision

Above all, children should always be supervised while playing. By staying close at hand and keeping a watchful eye, you can help prevent injuries or assist
right away if one does occur.

For ideas about outdoor play this summer, bookmark thread’s event calendar.