10 Playground Safety Reminders
Each year, more than 200,000 kids are treated in hospital ERs for playground-related injuries. In the past six months I have heard first hand of two separate incidents where kids have fallen off the swings at the playground and have sustained significant head injuries. In neither case was the child doing anything wild and crazy, they just lost their balance.
As the days get warmer and the kids spend more time on the playground, keep the following safety tips in mind (yes, I know a lot of this is common sense):
- Start with the sunscreen! Whether it is a sunny day or a cloudy one, protect your child’s skin with sunscreen. We like California Baby’s SPF 30+ Sunscreen: Everyday/Year-Round 2.9oz
- Make sure your children are dressed in the appropriate clothes. Avoid hooded shirts/jackets that could get caught on corners – same goes for drawstrings. Wear closed toe shoes with non-slip soles.
- The best surfaces for playgrounds are made of wood chips, mulch, smooth pea gravel, and shredded rubber.
- Look for swings with seats made of plastic or rubber, not metal or wood.
- Look for age appropriate activities/equipment and encourage children to play within their comfort zone.
- Remind children to go down slides one at a time, on their bottoms, and feet first. Guard rails are for their protection, not for climbing on.
- Check for hot surfaces on playground equipment (like slides, swings, and climbing structures) before allowing children to play on it.
- Make sure there are no obvious hazards around the playground, such as broken glass, metal, tree roots, and such.
- Be careful walking around swings, the base of the slides, under monkey bars, and around equipment in general.
- Supervise children at all times! Remind them not to push, shove or crowd others while on the equipment.
These safety tips are not just for public playgrounds, but are essential for your backyard playground as well. For additional playground safety guidelines and tips, please visit the following sites:
- KidsHealth.org – Playground Safety
- National Center for Injury Prevention’s extensive list for Playground Safety
You have to watch out for teeter totter’s as well. My son fell off one when he was five and broke his elbow. It was a hyper extension break and the worst thing I have gone through to date as a parent.