Playground Equipment Injury Prevention

Supervision

Close supervision by a responsible adult may be the most important factor in preventing or minimizing playground injuries. Age-appropriate equipment and carefully designed playground layouts, by themselves, won’t be enough to prevent all injuries that may occur. Adults must provide focused supervision. They must instruct children in the proper use of the equipment, and monitor and enforce playground rules.

Parents, relatives, teachers, babysitters, or anyone who sends or brings children to the playground should periodically inspect the facility for hazards. Report any problems to the proper officials. Don’t let your children use that playground until the authorities have completed repairs.

Playground Design

Whether playground injuries are caused by falls or other types of contact, attention to three major factors can help to reduce the incidence of injury. These factors are:

• Playground fall-zone surface
• Playground plan
• Equipment installation and maintenance

Playground surface. The type of surface on the playground is the most important factor in the number and severity of injuries due to falls. The number and severity of injuries can be reduced by using softer surfaces like the FallZone Poured-in-Place surface. Hard surfaces, such as asphalt and concrete, result in the most severe injuries and are unsuitable under any playground equipment. Soil, packed dirt, grass, pea gravel, wood chips, sand are not recommended for surfacing either, because their ability to absorb shock can be affected greatly by weather conditions, wear and maintenance. For more information on the proper playground surfacing products visit the industry leading authority for playground safety surfacing at www.fallzonesafetysurfacing.com 

Playground plan. A well-planned playground should offer activities to encourage the development of perception and physical skills, including running, walking, climbing, dodging, swinging, sliding, throwing, catching, pulling, and pushing.

General guidelines for a well-planned playground include:

• Separate areas should be available for active play, such as swinging, and for quiet play, such as digging in sandboxes.
• Spaces for preschoolers should be located away from areas where older, more active children play.
• A “Fall zone” should be established around equipment, with adequate space for entering and exiting. Open fields should be located so that children can run freely without colliding with other children or equipment.
• Zones for popular activities should be separate to avoid overcrowding.
• Pathways that link activity areas should provide for easy travel between areas, and unobstructed vision for a child’s height.
• Sight lines in all playground areas should be clear to allow proper adult supervision.

Equipment installation and maintenance. Schools and cities should keep playgrounds in good condition by inspecting and maintaining the equipment throughout the year. Heavy rainfall, snow, temperature extremes and high winds can damage playground equipment. So can heavy use. The most popular equipment might wear out quickly.

Manufacturers’ instructions for proper installation and spacing should be followed carefully, including recommendations for maintenance. Equipment should be inspected regularly to identify any loosening, rust or corrosion, or deterioration from use, rot, insects, or weathering.

For more information www.fallzonesafetysurfacing.com or 1-888-808-1587