By Jessica Feagin | Intern and UAB Community Health and Human Services Student

A great experience that I share with my kids is visiting the playground. My kids enjoy going to the playground. Although playgrounds offer my kids fun play, exercise, and fresh air, they can also pose a severe risk of injury if unsafe behaviors or faulty equipment occurs.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), each year, more than 200,000 children visit the emergency room for playground-related injuries, including fractures and traumatic brain injuries such as concussions (“5 playground safety tips for parents – Children’s health,” n.d.). One of the key factors to prevent injury in kids is always having adult supervision.

Some other playground safety rules for your kids are to:

• Choose the right playground equipment based on your child’s skills and age.
• Choose playgrounds with safe surfaces made from shredded rubber or wood chips to lessen the risk of injury.
• Dress your kid appropriately for the playground.
  • Items such as necklaces, scarves, and clothing that can get caught around their necks can pose a hazard.
• Use playground equipment properly.
  • Ex. never climb up slides or jump from the swings or the top of the slide.
• Be careful on the monkey bars.
  • They cause half of all serious playground falls.
• Apply sunscreen and bring water to make sure your kids stay hydrated.

Teaching your kids how to play safely is also important. Remind your little ones never to push or roughhouse with other children while playing on the playground equipment. Again, your child(ren) must always have adult supervision while playing on the playground. If an injury occurs, make sure you have the ability to provide first aid or notify medical professionals if needed. Enjoying watching your kids play on the playground is a happy time, but remember the safety rules and guidelines to avoid playground-related injuries.

References

5 playground safety tips for parents – Children’s health. (n.d.). https://www.childrens.com/health-wellness/5-tips-for-playground-safety