How many of you take your boys to the playground. If you are like me, I take my boys to the playground several times a week since it is just down the street from us. Did you know that 200,000 accidents happen on the playground as reported in emergency rooms. Just as shocked as I was? It gets worse. Did you know that 15 of those every year result in death, by head injures and strangulation. Even more shocked? Let me finish, most of these accidents are preventable. Now most you probably read Parents magazine like me. A recent poll in Parents stated that 82% of parents believe the government should step in with federal playground standards. Since that isn't happening, I will give you five different areas to look at the next time you go to the playground.
The first thing to look for is padding. There should be at least 6 inches of poured rubber padding, wood chips, shredded tires, bark mulch, wood fibers, pea gravel, or sand. These will provide the padding enough for you child. In one national survey showed that only 1 out of 4 playgrounds had adequate padding. Take a ruler with you and measure all the padding. Also make sure there is 6 feet of padding around all equipment and it doesn't have grass, soil, or asphalt around it.
Next, after a playground is constructed, experts should have came in and looked for any faulty construction. Faulty construction includes protruding bolts and sharp edges. The s-hooks on the swings could catch your child clothing if there is to much space in between them. When your at the playground, look for any faulty construction including under the equipment. Also take a credit card with you to check the s-hooks. If you can slip the credit card in between the s-hooks, then there is to much space between them.
Continuing through your checking of the playground, look for rusted hardware, broken or loose parts, missing ladder or bridge rungs, and splintering wood to name a few. These problems can harm your child as well. Also check for broken glass or germ spreading garbage. If your playground is poorly maintained, contact your local parks department.
One of the two biggest concerns, especially with the head injuries we discussed earlier, is heights. These structures have a injury rate three times them others. When a child falls from a structure that is 10 feet tall is like falling out of a second story window. For preschoolers, they should be not on a structure that is over 6 feet. For school aged children, it should not top 8 feet. Anything that is over 8 feet should be avoided.
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