Playgrounds are exciting places for children to be outdoors and active, and to make friends. Despite these great benefits, playgrounds are also common places where kids get hurt. Each year, more than 220,000 children under the age of 14 are treated in hospital emergency rooms across the United States for injuries occurring on playgrounds.
There are several things parents and caregivers can do to help make the playground safer for children. This includes:
- Providing strong supervision
- Ensuring that equipment and ground surfaces are free of potential hazards
- Steering kids to age-appropriate play areas.
Although minor bumps, bruises, and cuts frequently occur on playgrounds, many playground injuries are more severe. The most common playground-related injuries that require a doctor's care are:
- Broken bones (fractures)
- Sprains and strains
- Internal organ injuries
- Dislocations
- Concussions
Although it rarely happens, deaths have also been associated with playground equipment. In a recent 10-year timespan, 147 children (14 years or younger) died from playground-related injuries: 82 strangulations and 31 falls.
While most playground injuries occur on public playground swings and climbing equipment, 70% of deaths occurred on home playgrounds.
Your Gallup Fire Department would like to offer these guidelines for safe playground use.
- Be sure you can clearly see your children on the playground. The kids should have clear, unobstructed views from their height.
- Avoid playgrounds that have concrete, asphalt, hard-packed soil, or grass. The surface should be made of wood chips, mulch, or shredded rubber for play equipment up to 7 feet high.
- Make sure children are wearing appropriate shoes for safe running, climbing, and jumping. Check that the child's shoelaces are tied or velcro straps are secured.
- Steer children to age-appropriate playground equipment.
- Check to see that there is enough space for kids to easily get off the slide or merry-go-round. Don't let kids crowd around the exit areas.
- Try the handgrips to verify they are shaped and sized for easy grasp.
- Swing seats should be made of plastic or rubber. Avoid metal or wood.
- Avoid any equipment that has openings that could entrap a child's head.
- Remove tripping hazards such as exposed concrete footings, tree stumps, or rocks.
Original source found here.
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