Prevention of Injury on Playgrounds

Posted by Johnmix on January 17th, 2023

More than two hundred thousand kids younger than 14 are treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms every year for injuries sustained on playground equipment, as reported by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Traumatic brain injuries, such as concussions, are diagnosed and treated in over twenty thousand of these kids every year.

As the weather improves and park visits increase, it's a good idea to read up on 안전놀이터precautions before you go.

Find Potential Risks in Playgrounds

The majority of injuries sustained on playgrounds are the result of falls. When taking children to a playground, keep an eye out for these risks and report anything suspicious you find.

Inadequate ground coverings: at least 12 inches of wood chips, mulch, sand, pea gravel, or mats made of safety-tested rubber or rubber-like materials should cover the ground around playground equipment. Exposed concrete footings, rocks, and tree stumps should not be present in playgrounds.

Overcrowded play areas: swing sets require space behind and in front of them that is twice as high as the bar that suspends the swings. Buildings over 30 inches in height should be separated by at least 9 feet.

No guardrails or other safety features on platforms higher than 30 inches.

Cargo nets should have no less than 3 1/2 inches of head clearance and no more than 9 inches of head clearance between rails, bars, rungs, and even ropes.

Equipment used in playgrounds should not have any sharp points or edges, such as exposed bolt ends or "S" hooks.

Keep away from Potential Strangulation Risks

Children shouldn't wear or play with anything that could get caught on equipment and become a strangulation hazard, as per the advice of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Don't ever tie or let kids tie ropes, jump ropes, clotheslines, or pet leashes to playground equipment.

Don't bother bringing necklaces or hooded sweatshirts.

Take off your helmets before entering the playground, please.

Keep your eyes protected from the sun.

Only 3% of public playgrounds evaluated by the National Program for 안전놀이터had full sun protection between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when exposure is at its highest, while 30% had some form of partial shade. During peak hours, the remaining 67% of public playgrounds were in direct sunlight.

Playing outside during the hottest parts of the day is discouraged, and you should learn to recognize the symptoms of heat exhaustion.

Protect your child's skin by not letting them play on playground equipment that is too hot to touch.

Activities Must Be Appropriate for the Age Group

Age-appropriate playground tools are detailed in the Public Playground Safety Handbook published by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. And keep in mind that adult supervision is essential, especially with young children.

Injuries to the Brain from Playing Contact Sports among Young People

There are as many as 1.9 million annual concussions in young Americans caused by sports and other recreational activities. Find out the signs of a concussion and what you can do to protect your child's safety on the playing field.