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Play it Safe
Playground
equipment is the leading cause of injuries to children.
Nearly 50,000 home playground accidents occur in the
United States every year. Kids of all ages can be hurt
if play equipment is unsafe — but children under
age five are especially at risk for serious injury.
Playing it
safe doesn't mean your kids can't enjoy backyard play
equipment, it just means you need to take precautions
to protect them. Keep your backyard playground safe
by following these tips:
- Install
and maintain a shock-absorbing surface around home
play equipment, since most injuries occur when a child
falls from the equipment onto the ground. Use at least
9 inches of wood chips, mulch, shredded rubber, "pea"
gravel, sand or surfacing mats made of safety-tested
rubber-like materials.
- Place
protective surfacing at least 6 feet in all directions
from play equipment. For swings, extend the surfacing
so it's twice the height of the suspending bar both
in front and back.
- Firmly
anchor swing sets to avoid tipping. Look for equipment
that comes with its own anchoring device and includes
detailed assembly instructions.
- Never
attach, or allow children to attach, ropes, jump ropes,
clotheslines, or pet leashes to play equipment. Children
can strangle when these loose ends dangle from swings,
slides or play towers. Loose strings on clothing can
also cause accidental strangulation if caught on play
equipment.
- Check
for dangerous hardware, like open "S" hooks
or protruding bolt ends.
- Look for
spaces that could trap your child, such as openings
in guardrails or between ladder rungs. These spaces
should measure less than 3.5 inches or more than 9
inches.
 Make
sure elevated platforms and ramps have guardrails
to help prevent falls.- Select
a swing set with soft material seats. Swing seats
made of wood or metal cause more severe injuries upon
impact than soft seats.
- Look for
anything that might cause your child to trip. Remove
tripping hazards, like exposed concrete footing, tree
stumps and rocks from the play area.
- Check
play equipment and surfacing regularly to make sure
both are in good condition. Smooth out sharp points,
edges or rough wood as soon as you spot them.
- Double
check chains, loose supports, anchors, footing, protective
caps, nuts and bolts before your child begins to play
on the equipment for the first time.
- Never
use wood preservatives that contain creosote or other
known chemical carcinogens on wooden play equipment.
- Carefully
supervise children on play equipment, even in your
own backyard. Teach your kids some basic playground
rules. For example, warn them not to climb on the
very top of the play set, not to climb with a stick
in their mouth, and not to wear a poncho or jacket
with hood and strings attached when playing on the
structure.
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