Playground equipment allows children to stay active outdoors and to enjoy playing with their friends. And now that springtime has arrived, the season for kids to enjoy playing outdoor is in full swing. Playgrounds are relatively safe especially when they are installed the right way and safety nets are used. However, community playground in as much as they are fun can also pose risks and can lead to severe injuries. A report has shown that a large number of playground accidents were attributed to asphyxiation.
The report which contains data from 2009 to 2014, more than 1.5 million injury incidents that are associated with playground. This translates to about 243,000 patients treated in the emergency room. Based on the report, the two usual hazard patterns in playground equipment include falls and the risks of equipment. This accounts for about 81% of the incidents. Kids tend to move a lot and most of them are not completely aware of their movements.
Without safety nets, kids may end up falling or they may experience accidents brought about by dangers of the equipment. In the said report, the common diagnoses include abrasions and fractures. How about the most accident prone playground equipment? It was found out that swings and monkey bars account for the majority of the injuries. And the victims who were brought to the emergency rooms were kids age 5 to 9 years old. Playground Safety Rules Community playground has a lot of benefits for kids, but at the same time parents have to be cautious and take the necessary precautions to avoid accidents. Everyone is encouraged to follow the playground safety rules.
Firstly, parents should not leave their parents unattended. They should supervise their ids and to ensure that they only allow their kids to play in playground equipment that are suitable for their age. Keep in mind that not all playground equipment are suitable for all ages. In installing playground equipment, there should be no strings, leashes, ropes and pet leashes as these can strangle children. To avoid a dangerous fall, it is important for surfaces to have 9 to 12 inches. of sand, wood chips, pea gravel or wood chips. This provides a safety net for kids. When it gets really hot, check the surface of the playground equipment. Do not allow your kids to play on surfaces that are really hot as these may cause burns. For swings, make sure to check if there are tripping hazards like rocks, tree stumps, concrete footings, etc. Playing outdoors and enjoying community playground should be fun. But they should definitely not compromise the health and safety of kids. By being mindful of the needs of children along with the supervision of parents and by ensuring that they follow the safety rules, children can enjoy the multitude of benefits of having a nice playground where they can create fun memories and play with their friends.