Top Ten Home Playground Safety Tips
Each year, more than 200,000 children will be admitted to a hospital emergency room because of playground injuries. Below is a safety checklist to help you prevent injuries and make sure your home playground is a safe place for children:
Top Ten Home Playground Safety Checklist
- Install and maintain a shock-absorbing surface around the play equipment. For example, use at least 9 inches of wood chips, mulch or shredded rubber for play equipment up to 7 feet high. If sand or pea gravel is used, install at least a 9-inch layer of the material for play equipment up to 5 feet high.
- Install protective surfacing at least 6 feet in all directions from play equipment. For swings, be sure the surfacing extends both in back and front to a distance twice the height of the suspending bar.
- Never attach or allow children to attach ropes, jump ropes, strings, clotheslines or pet leashes to play equipment. Children can strangle on these.
- Check for faulty or worn-out hardware. For example open “S” hooks or protruding bolt ends can be hazardous.
- Remove or securely cover sharp points or edges on the equipment, which also can be dangerous to children.
- Check for spaces that could trap children such as openings in guardrails or between ladder rungs. These spaces should measure less than 3.5 inches.
- Make sure platforms and ramps have guardrails to prevent falls.
- Remove trip hazards like tree stumps and rocks.
- Regularly check the playground equipment to make sure it is in good condition. All things wear out over time; playground equipment is no exception.
- Carefully supervise children on playground equipment to make sure they are safe.
If your child is injured on a public playground or due to the negligence of another in West Virginia, feel free to contact a licensed personal injury lawyer at West Law Offices for a free consultation.