Playgrounds provide endless hours of fun and exercise for children. They are essential in promoting muscle development, coordination, social skills and imagination. But unsafe playground equipment is responsible for more than 237,000 childhood injuries every year.

The most typical injuries are falls. The best way to prevent serious head injuries is to have a "safe surface" for children to land on beneath swings, slides and other equipment. A safe surface is any surface that absorbs the impact of a fall. Concrete, asphalt and even grass are not suitable services. A 4-foot fall onto packed earth or grass can cause serious injury or death.

In addition to falls, playground injuries include cuts and scrapes from sharp edges, hardware or loose nails and screws; scratches and splinters from poorly maintained wood equipment; burns from hot metal slides; and bumps and bruises from other children playing too rough.
 
Adult supervision is the most effective tool in preventing playground injuries. It's up to parents and caregivers to make sure playgrounds are safe places for kids to have fun. Kosair Children's Hospital offers the following suggestions:

Playground Equipment

Swings

• Swing seats should be made of lightweight materials such as canvas or rubber. Metal and wood seats can be dangerous if they bump or crash into one another.
• Swings should be placed at least two feet apart to avoid crashes and only two swings per bay are recommended.
• Check the "S" hooks that connect the seat to the swing and the swing to the bar. They should be pinched closed as tightly as possible to prevent catching a child's clothing.
• Tire swings are an acceptable alternative, but make sure drainage holes are drilled in the bottom to prevent water from collecting.
• Children should not swing empty swing seats or twist swing chairs and only one child per swing is recommended.

Climbing Equipment

• Slides and monkey bars should be no higher than 6 feet off the ground for preschoolers and 7 feet for school-age kids.
• Make sure elevated platforms have guardrails (at least 30 inches for preschoolers; 48 inches for school-age children).
• Head entrapment is also a serious risk on the playground. Avoid equipment with angles or openings less than 31/2 by 9 inches.

Slides

• Metal slides that face the sun can cause serious burns. Check to be sure the slide is positioned in the shade or facing the north.
• Slide railings should be at least 4 inches to prevent falls.
• Do not allow children to climb up slides, they should use the ladder only.

Playground Surfaces

• Check the surface of the play area carefully. It should be soft with at least 12 inches of loose fill material such as wood chips, pea gravel, mulch, sand or a rubber outdoor mat. Hard surfaces like concrete, asphalt, or even grass don't absorb the shock should a child fall.
• Impact-absorbing surfaces need maintained - either refilled or replaced on a regular basis.

Maintenance

• Check the play area regularly for potential hazards, such as animal droppings, trash, broken glass, wobbly railings and peeling paint.
• Make sure there are no missing nuts, bolts or connectors. Check all supports and anchors to ensure they are secure. All exposed bolts and tubing should be covered with protective caps that cannot be removed.
• Wooden structures should be well maintained and painted with lead-free paint. Watch for signs of splintering, separating or deteriorated wood.
• Make sure playground equipment is put together correctly and that it is anchored firmly to the ground.

Rules of the Playground

• Do not allow children to run, push, shove or fight while near or on playground equipment. Children should take turns if more than one child wants to use a specific piece of equipment.
• Require children to use all playground equipment properly and for its original purpose.
• To prevent strangulation, children should avoid loose clothes, hoods, scarves and any type of clothing with a string or cord. These items can catch on playground equipment.
• Keep an especially close eye on toddlers. Don't let them eat sand from the sandbox or absentmindedly chew on railings.
• Ideally, play areas should be separated by age group, type of equipment and active or passive play to avoid children causing injury to one another.

In An Emergency

If you believe your child needs emergency care, contact your child's doctor. If you're unable to reach your physician - or in the event of a serious emergency - bring your child straight to the emergency department at Kosair Children's Hospital, any hour of the day or night. Kosair Children's has the staff, the facilities, the equipment, and the technology to handle any pediatric emergency, from the smallest cut to the most serious injury.

Why Kosair Children's Hospital Cares

Kosair Children's Hospital is Kentucky's only free-standing, full-service hospital dedicated exclusively to caring for children, adolescents and young adults. We have a strong commitment to the health and safety of all children. For more information on summer safety or to inquire about free fact sheets on a variety of health and safety subjects, call (502) 629-KIDS or 1-800-852-1770.