Over 200,000 children 14 years of age and under go to hospital emergency rooms each year in the United States due to playground injuries. Keeping kids safe on playgrounds requires adult supervision. Steering them to age-appropriate equipment, proper surfacing and regular inspections are key. Inspect equipment for sharp points or edges that might cut clothing. Also check for spaces that could trap kids such as openings in guardrails or ladder rungs.
Impact-Absorbing Surfaces
Children fall down a lot when they’re playing in playgrounds. But if they fall on the right surface, the impact can be dampened and prevented from becoming severe. The best safety surfaces are shock-absorbing and soft. They also provide extra play value and support imaginative, creative exploration. There are many different types of playground surfacing, but not all are created equal. They differ in how they’re installed, their durability, how much maintenance they require, and more. Unitary surfaces like rubber tiles and PIP are the most durable, but they tend to be more expensive than loose-fill options.
Other safe surfacing options include rubber mulch, pea gravel, sand, and engineered wood fiber (EWF). EWF is the safest loose-fill material because it knits together to compact into a consistent surface, and can stay in place better than other materials. However, it still needs to be regularly inspected to prevent erosion, especially under swings and slides where tiny feet can kick it away.
Stability Of Equipment
A 안전놀이터 requires equipment that is stable and well-maintained. This is important to prevent injuries from falling and other accidents. Regular inspections should be conducted to ensure that all parts of the equipment are secure and not loosened by weathering, rust or other factors. Impact-absorbing surfaces like sand, wood chips, shredded rubber and mulch make walking, jumping and running much safer for kids than concrete or asphalt. In addition to reducing the risk of head injury, these surfaces provide cushioning during falls and reduce the impact force on the child’s body.
Whether you choose to use loose-fill or unitary surfacing, it should meet the requirements of ASTM F1292. This consumer safety performance specification includes a testing method for determining critical height, which is the maximum fall height from which a life-threatening head injury cannot be expected to occur.
Adult Supervision
Regardless of the safety features, more than 40 percent of playground injuries are related to lack of adult supervision. Adults need to watch children play, observe and intercede when needed. They should also ensure that kids use equipment designed for their age group and be available in case of an emergency. Young kids (and even some older ones) can’t gauge distances properly and may not be able to foresee dangerous situations by themselves. In addition, distractions like conversations, phones and texting can take away a supervisor’s attention from the children they are watching.
To make supervision more manageable, supervisors can set surveillance zones that allow them to monitor different parts of the playground from different vantage points. This allows them to monitor the equipment more effectively and avoid blind spots where kids might be hiding or taking cover. This makes it easier to identify potential dangers and respond quickly if a child is injured. A walkie-talkie is also a great way to communicate with other adults on the playground without leaving the kids you are supervising.
Safe Clothing
Children should wear clothes that will keep them safe, warm and comfortable while playing on the playground. This will reduce their chances of suffering from a head injury. They should also avoid wearing jewelry and clothing with drawstrings. These can get caught on equipment and pose a strangulation risk. Kids should not climb or play near equipment that is too high for them. This can cause them to fall off and hurt themselves. They should also stay away from equipment that is damaged or rusty. They should also avoid pushing or shoving others while playing on the playground.
The best way to prevent injuries on a playground is to supervise children at all times. Strong supervision can help children follow the rules and prevent bullying behavior. It can also stop children from wandering off or getting into trouble. Moreover, adult supervision will allow them to quickly respond to any injuries or accidents that may occur while playing.
The Bottom Lines
A safety playground is an environment that lets kids test their limits, overcome challenges and learn to take healthy risks. It also includes safe equipment and a soft surface to fall on. Look for a soft ground surface under and around equipment that is at least 12 inches deep. Acceptable surfaces include wood fiber/mulch, sand or pea gravel. For swings, ensure surfacing extends back and front twice as high as the highest point of the suspending bar.
