It is important that your playground equipment is safe and meets regulations. Combine this with adult supervision and you go a long way towards making the playground a safe, fun place to play. However, it also important to teach your child how to play safely on the equipment and act responsibly in the following ways:
It is important not to push or roughhouse while on playground equipment such as jungle gyms, slides and swings. This behaviour can lead to accidents.
Equipment should be used correctly. When going down a slide go feet first, don’t stand on swings and keep inside the guard rails.
When jumping your child should make sure they have a clear space in front of them and that they are bending their knees.
Place bikes, bags and school bags away from equipment so they don’t cause a trip hazard.
Take off bike helmets when playing on the equipment.
Don’t use the playground equipment when it’s wet as it could be slippery.
Check the equipment in the summertime for heat. If it is hot to touch it can lead to contact burns.
Don’t wear clothing with drawstrings or cords as they can get caught on equipment and lead to strangulation. Other items such as purses or necklaces can get caught also.
Always wear sunscreen, even on a cloudy day as the UV index can still be high or choose a playground that has a shade shelter over it.
For more information on designing a safe playground please feel free to contact us.