To keep your child from getting hurt on a playground, choose age-appropriate equipment, teach them how to play it safe, and avoid hazards such as ropes. Also, learn how to identify the safest playgrounds. A park or school playground is the perfect place for children to play together, but poorly maintained or outdated equipment can be dangerous: Every year, more than 200,000 children and girl are treated in emergency rooms for injuries and accidents related to the playground equipment. About three-quarters of these injuries occur on public parks or school playgrounds.
Here are some tips to help keep your baby, toddler,
or older child safe on the playground.
Provide close supervision: You or another trusted adult keeping an eye on your child is essential in the playground.
Crowd control: Avoid overcrowded playgrounds. It is easier to see and monitor your baby or toddler in a calm environment than a chaotic one.
Eliminate the dangers of strangulation: One of the leading causes of death in playgrounds is disruption. Clothing must not have ropes or other hanging material. Loose threads, strings, necklaces, and helmets can also catch on the equipment and create a choking hazard.
Slide safety: Do not drop on the slide with your baby or baby on your lap as his feet may get caught (and even break) on the way down. Teach your child to slide your feet first, after making sure another child is not at the bottom of the slide. Be careful as your baby slips to the bottom and be there to identify him until he gets the goal to go down. Remove any debris away from the landing area.
Swing safety: Teach your child not to sit or kneel on the swings,
not to jump over them, and not to walk in front of another swinging child. Don’t put your baby on a play swing before he’s a year old. The heads of younger babies are too big and heavy and their neck muscles are too weak to prevent injury from the rocking action.
Sun safety: Make sure your baby, toddler or older child is wearing sunscreen. Learn more about keeping your baby safe in the sun.
What safety hazards should I look for in the yard?
Non-smooth surfaces: Pay attention to sharp points, corners or edges on devices that can cut the skin. All corners should be rounded, and the metal edges should be rolled or have a round capping. There shall be no open “S” hooks or protruding bolt ends. The wood should be smooth and smooth. Metal structures must not rust or have peeling paint, which may contain lead.
Hot surfaces: Some metal, plastic, and even rubber surfaces can heat up enough to burn the skin if exposed to direct sunlight – even on relatively mild days. Touch the device to see how hot it is before letting your child use it.
Openings: The space between the slats should be too large for a small child to catch his head or too small for his feet to enter. Metal rods, for example, should be spaced relatively apart (more than 9 inches) or very close together (less than 3 1/2 inches).
Cargo nets: The openings of the net must be too small for the child’s
Body to fall through them but large enough for the child’s head to pass easily (to avoid being caught) If each net opening has a perimeter (i.e., all sides added together) of 17 to 28 inches, it is not safe.
Disruption hazards: There should be no large, sharp rocks or tree roots protruding from the play area. Any potential obstruction hazards, such as exposed concrete foundations, should be heavily painted so that they are easily visible.
Ropes: Do not allow children to attach any rope play equipment, and never leave a child alone while 메이저사이트 with a jump rope or pet leash, which are strangling hazards.
Hard Swings: Swings should be made of soft material, not metal or wood.
Non-anchored equipment: Handrails, ladders, stairs, and similar equipment shall be securely anchored to the ground.
Unprotected platforms: Platforms for older children that are higher than 30 inches above the ground should have barriers or guardrails.
How can I find age-appropriate playground equipment?
Look for a playground with separate play areas for different ages. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), playground equipment falls into three general age groups:
Toddler Playgrounds (ages 6 to 23 months): Find space for younger children to crawl, sit, walk and explore
