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How To Keep Your Child Safe From Injuries In Public Playgrounds

To ensure the safety of a child, parents need to examine the places where their children often spend a lot of time in. Children just love playgrounds, and it is also a good venue for them to release all their extra energy. A playground can be a fun place for kids, but parents need to be on guard because it can also be a place, where potential injuries can occur.

A good number of children are brought to the emergency room each year, for playground-related injuries. Research has shown that around 45% of these injuries are severe. The usual severe injuries are fractures, internal injuries, concussions, dislocations, and even amputations. Most injuries on public playgrounds come from climbing equipments, while swings are the most common injury-causing playground equipment at home.

Parents should then take necessary precautions, so that kids can safely play in these areas. Playground equipments are prone to wear and tear, not only due to heavy use, but also of factors like extreme temperatures, heavy snow, and rainfall. It is then important to know whether your child’s favorite playground is routinely checked for any hazards. Maintenance-related injuries can easily be prevented if regular checks are done.

Parents should closely supervise children who are younger than five years old. Parents need to ensure, that the play area is age specific for a child. Children under age 3 must never be allowed on a seesaw. Younger children may not have fully developed physical coordination, so they should stick to age-appropriate playground equipments. A bucket swing with leg holes can be used for children, who still cannot manage to safely sit on a standard swing. Swing seats made of soft material, like plastic or rubber, are recommended.

 Play areas with concrete, or hard packed soil or grass may not be safe for kids. A playground with soft or energy absorbent surface like sand, wood chips, foam or rubber is advisable.  Wooden playground equipments must have smooth surfaces and the material should be able to withstand weather changes.Playground equipments made of wood should be smooth and properly treated to withstand wear and tear from weather changes. The entire play area must also have enough space, so that kids can easily get off the slide. Kids must also have an area where they can play quietly.

It is also important for parents to discuss playground safety measures to their children. Teach your kids to stay away from the swings, when others are still using them.When going up stairs or ladders, children need to be orderly. It is equally important for kids, to quickly exit the landing of the slide to prevent accidents. Supervise your child when around new equipment to prevent injuries.

Check the surface of the equipments during hot weather because it may cause burns. It is also important that your child wears the right clothes for play. Avoid clothes with strings, or with hoods, which may get caught in the equipment. Even fashion accessories like necklaces are not safe to use when on playgrounds.

Children love playing especially in playgrounds where they can truly feel the best of their childhood.Injuries are almost synoymous with active play, but parents can help prevent them from occurring. After all, children can only enjoy playgrounds in their young age, so parents must give them that opportunity.

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