To enjoy a safe summer with your children, below are guidelines for playground safety:
Did you know…
- Five to nine year-old children are those most frequently injured in playgrounds. Most of the injuries to children in this age group happen in playgrounds at schools and public parks.
- Children get injured playing on both indoor and outdoor equipment. Injuries on home play space equipment are increasing.
- It is dangerous for children to play on equipment designed for older or younger children. Playground equipment is designed for children of specific height and weight. Make sure children are using the appropriate equipment for their size.
- Most falls occur from climbers, swings and slides. Other leading causes of playground injury are strangulation and crushing injuries.
When frequenting a park with your children always check the playground and the equipment before letting your child use them.
Why should you supervise your children at a playground?
Young children under the age of 5 are often injured because they are still developing their balancing and climbing skills, putting them at a greater risk for falls. You should stay close to your child and teach him/her how to play safely. For young children this means staying right beside your child/ren. Older children tend to be daredevils and often like to test their limits and take risks. Always keep an eye on your older child and what he/she may be doing.
Teaching Your Children About the Importance of Playground Safety
Safe playground equipment and adult supervision are extremely important, however children must know how to be safe and act responsibly at the playground.
Here are some general rules to teach your kids:
- Never push or roughhouse while on jungle gyms, slides, seesaws, swings, and other equipment.
- Use equipment properly — slide feet first, don't climb outside guardrails, no standing on swings sit down on them, keep away from moving swings and bottom of slides, hold onto railings, do not go up the slide ladder until the other person has gone down the slide and always wait your turn.
- If your child likes to jump off equipment, always check to make sure no other children are in the way. When you jump, land on both feet with knees slightly bent.
- Leave bikes, backpacks, and bags away from the park equipment and the area where you are playing so that no one trips over them.
- Playground equipment should never be used if it is wet because moisture causes the surface to be slippery.
- During the summertime, playground equipment can become uncomfortably or even dangerously hot, especially metal slides. So use good judgment — if the equipment feels hot to the touch, it's probably not safe or fun to play on.
- Don't wear clothes with strings attached at the playground. Drawstrings, purses, and necklaces could get caught on equipment and accidentally strangle a child or yourself.
- Always wear sunscreen when playing outside even on cloudy days so that you don't get sunburned.
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