It’s always fun to take a trip to the park or community recreation area for outside fun.
Many children head to a neighborhood playground and immediately start climbing and swinging on equipment.
The playground seems harmless, but take a closer look at the surroundings.
Parents and guardians need to familiarize themselves with the risks on playgrounds and how to prevent injuries.
The National Safety Council reports nearly 80% of playground injuries are caused by falls.
Each year, more than 200,000 children aged 14 and younger are injured severely on playgrounds and need to go to a hospital emergency room, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Here are some examples of playground dangers to watch out for:
· Improper ground surfaces: The area around playground equipment should have at least 12 inches of wood chips, mulch, sand, or mats made of safety-tested rubber or similar material. Playgrounds must be free of exposed concrete footings, rocks, or tree stumps.
· Overcrowded play areas: The area under and around play equipment should be a minimum of 6 feet in all directions. Swing set areas should be twice the height of the suspending bar in the back and front of the swings.
· Unprotected elevated areas: Platforms higher than 30 inches should have guardrails or barriers.
· Head entrapment spaces: Opening between rails, bars, rungs, and even ropes of cargo nets should be less than 3.5 inches or more than 9 inches.
· Sharp points and edges: Playground equipment should be free of protruding bolt ends, “S” hooks, and other sharp points and edges.”
Dressing a child correctly for the playground is also important to prevent injury.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children should not wear or play in anything that could get caught on playground equipment or become a strangulation hazard.
Some tips for child safety:
· Don’t allow children to attach ropes, jump ropes, clotheslines, or pet leashes to play equipment.
· Leave sweatshirts with drawstrings and necklaces at home
· Remove bike helmets when playing on a playground.
Other dangers include:
Metal sliding boards which can get very hot from the sun, and seriously burn a child’s hands and legs. Plastic slides get hot too. Check for playgrounds where slides are shaded.
There should be at least 2 feet between swings and no more than 2 seat swings in the same section of the structure.
Lastly, steer clear of hard surfaces like concrete and asphalt.
Cooper Levenson is a full-service law firm established in 1957. Kathleen F. Beers, Esq. handles personal injury law and can be reached at kbeers@cooperlevenson.com or (609) 572-7570.