Playground Safety Tips

Families across the country want their children to have fun and to be safe. Outdoor play equipment is one way families bring fun to the backyard, but these fun-filled devices can also pose some safety hazards. Poorly constructed equipment and improper play surfaces are two of the leading causes for accidents and injuries to children.

Parents may not be aware of it, but every year over 200,000 children are treated in hospitals for playground-related injuries. The good news is many of these injuries can be prevented with proper construction of playground equipment.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Make it a habit to always check the play equipment for potential hazards. Teach your child how to play safely on the equipment, and monitor them until you are sure they are doing so.

Make sure that any equipment that your children play on is appropriate to their age and maturity level.

When considering the location of your new play equipment, place it so that you, or other adults, can see it clearly.

If you are installing playground equipment that requires footings to be set into the ground, make sure that you follow the instructions carefully. Many accidents occur when play equipment tips over. Parents should keep in mind that when instructions call for cement or concrete footings, substituting soil is a mistake. Soil, even when it is packed in tight, will usually begin to loosen up as the equipment is used. At some point, the soil will probably fail and the risk of the equipment tipping over, especially swing sets, is dramatically increased.

When assembling a slide, it is important to make sure that the ladder is assembled with care. This is the part of the device that often receives the most punishment as children climb up and down. When doing your routine inspection, make sure that the steps have remained tight and that the bolts and nuts are all in place.

Playground safety should always be a priority. Careful assembly, adult monitoring, and routine inspections will go a long way in preventing accidents and injuries to your children.