Is Your Child Safe On The Playground?

The leading cause of injury to children in the school environment is the use of playground equipment. Each year, approximately 211,000 U.S. children receive emergency room care for playground equipment related injuries.

Playgrounds need to be supervised at all times, children need to know that there is an adult nearby in case they become frightened or injured. The equipment used should be age-appropriate, well maintained, and placed on surfaces, which will cushion falls. Children increase their risk of injury if they play on equipment that is inappropriate for their age, size, strength, and decision-making ability.

The National Program for Playground Safety offers some advice for parents in deciding whether your child's playground is as safe as it should be. The S-A-F-E method ensures that your children will have a safe, happy, playground experience.

Supervision is present, but strings and rope aren't.
Adult presence is needed to watch for potential hazards, observe, intercede and facilitate play when necessary. Strings on clothing or ropes used for play can cause accidental strangulation if caught on equipment.

All children play on age-appropriate equipment.
Preschoolers, ages 2-5, and children, ages 5-12, are developmentally different and need different equipment located in separate areas to keep the playground safe and fun for all.

Falls to surface are cushioned.
Nearly 70 percent of all playground injuries are related to falls to the surface. Acceptable surfaces include hardwood fiber/mulch, pea gravel, sand, and synthetic materials such as poured-in-place, rubber mats, or tiles. Playground surfaces should not be concrete, asphalt, grass, blacktop, packed dirt, or rocks.

Equipment is safe.
Check to make sure the equipment is anchored safely in the ground, all equipment pieces are in good working order, S-hooks are entirely closed, bolts are not protruding, there are no exposed footings, etc. Safety checklists are available from the CPSC or the National Program for Playground Safety.