Each year, more than 200,000 children under age 14 visit U.S. hospital emergency rooms because of injuries related to playground equipment. Steer kids to age-appropriate playground equipment and keep an eye out for maintenance issues that can add extra hazards. Check surfacing to ensure that wood chips, mulch, pea gravel or safety-tested mats cover all equipment. Also look for proper spacing between different pieces of equipment. Make sure that openings for entrapment — such as between guardrails or ladder rungs — are less than 3.5 inches wide to prevent strangulation.
Surfaces
Kids are incredibly excited to play on playground equipment, and as they’re so absorbed in their fun, they often fall. The surface on which they fall is very important because it can make the difference between a minor ouchie and a severe head injury. The ideal material is shock-absorbing and soft to cushion the impact. It also dampens the force of the fall, reducing the risk of broken bones. There are many options for safety surfacing, including grass, dirt and wood chips. We recommend choosing a hard-wearing, unitary option that offers ADA accessibility and low maintenance costs.
Poured-in-Place (PIP) rubber is a popular choice. It’s a 2-layer system with a shock absorbing layer of rubber buffings and a top finish layer of granular particles all mixed with binder. It’s available in a wide range of colors and can be designed to fit any exterior aesthetic. It’s an excellent option for ADA accessibility and meets critical fall height requirements.
Equipment
The equipment of a 안전놀이터 should be age appropriate, with safety surfaces underneath and around all pieces. Especially important, these surface materials should mitigate injury from falls. Concrete, asphalt, and grass should be avoided because they provide the least cushion for impact. Instead, look for softer surface options like wood mulch or chips, shredded rubber, or poured-in rubber. In addition to choosing the best surfacing, make sure the layout of the playground is designed for kids to move in and out of congested areas. A Landscape Structures playground consultant can help design an optimal layout and select the right surfacing for the space.
Perform regular maintenance inspections. This helps to catch equipment that is poorly installed, physically worn out, or damaged by vandals and thieves before injuries occur. It also ensures that all fasteners, chains and cords are secure so kids can’t entangle themselves in equipment. Additionally, inspections identify hot equipment that may burn a child.
Adult Supervision
Even on playgrounds with age-appropriate equipment, kids need adult guidance and supervision. Many playground-related injuries are linked to lack of supervision. Supervision includes watching for hazards, observing and guiding children’s play, interceding when needed and being available in case of an emergency. It also involves knowing about each child’s development and personality to identify risk takers who may need extra attention or restrictions. It involves actively, yet unobtrusively, monitoring the playground environment – watching, counting and listening at all times.
The adults assigned to supervise on a playground should be trained in the principles of positive supervision. They should also know how to use the equipment and where to find first aid supplies in case of an emergency. The layout of the playground should ensure that all areas are within sight of staff. If not, obstructions should be removed. Adults who are supervising should also be able to communicate with each other without leaving the children (a walkie-talkie is ideal). This enables them to respond quickly and effectively in an emergency.
Rules
It’s crucial to teach kids basic playground rules for outdoor play so they don’t hurt themselves or other children while playing on jungle gyms, slides, seesaws and swings. Among other things, they should know to never push, fight or play pranks with other children; take turns using equipment; and not to jump off equipment, such as from a slide, until they’ve landed on both feet and with their knees bent slightly. They should also be aware that some surfaces, such as metal, can become very hot in the sun and should touch equipment carefully to avoid burns.
A good idea is to recruit a responsible child to help perform daily or weekly safety inspections of the playground, such as checking for dangerous hardware, spaces that trap children, like openings in guardrails or gaps between ladder rungs, and removing trash and other debris.
Final Word
It is also a good idea to check the ground surface around and under equipment to make sure it’s cushioned; falls to hard surfaces cause most playground injuries.
