It should not be surprising that playground safety is a major concern as temperatures start to increase across the nation. In a perfect world, playgrounds would be a safe refuge, but every year, incidents on playgrounds send at least 200,000 children to the emergency room.
That does not imply you should stay away from them.
At playgrounds, kids can get some exercise, breathe some fresh air, and interact with others. You only need to follow a few simple guidelines to make sure your child has the greatest experience possible.
The most crucial thing you can do is to keep a careful eye on your kids, even though it may seem apparent.
Adult supervision has two clear cut benefits;
a) You will know when your child is in danger
b) Knowing that you are watching them closely may make your youngster act less carelessly. Make sure the playground you select contains places where parents can see their kids without much obstruction.
Letting your child know that you’ve got your eye on them is a great first step, but how do your children know what risks to avoid?
Make sure your children are aware of the fundamental playground safety rules before you get to the playground so they know what is and isn’t allowed. The majority of playgrounds have established regulations, making them a wonderful place to start this discussion with your child. You should teach your child how to interact with their classmates in a positive way in addition to teaching them how to utilize the playground safely. Make sure kids understand that roughhousing is dangerous, especially close to equipment like jungle gyms, and that pushing or shoving too forcefully on the swings is likely to result in an accident.
Unfortunately, not all playgrounds are created equal.
It may have been some time since the last inspection, even though the playground may have been reviewed and designed with safety in mind. Make sure to inspect all of the equipment for potential flaws or wear before releasing your child. The last thing you want is for your child to suffer an injury as a result of faulty machinery.
Verify if the surfaces are suitable while you are inspecting the area. Any playground with granite or concrete surfaces is unsafe for kids. Rubber cushioning or loose-fill materials are two considerably safer options for playground surfaces. However, regardless of how well-rated the surface is, if there are more than 12 feet between your youngster and the surface, it’s not recommended.
Last but not least, make sure that you wear sunscreen!
Obviously, you don’t need a degree in public safety management to know that; even on an overcast day, it is simple to harm your skin and your child’s skin.
So remember these easy steps the next time you’re visiting a playground and have fun!