ALL ABOUT

PLAYGROUND

SAFETYKEEP KIDS SAFE ON THE PLAYGROUND

If you’re planning to visit a play park orplayground this summer, we have some tipsabout playground safety.

Although playgrounds are an excellent settingfor exercise and fun, we at 24/7 Pediatric CareCenters know that more than 200,000 childrenare treated in the emergency room forplayground-related injuries each year. Generallyspeaking, if your children’s playground has a safe(soft and thick) surface, with equipment in goodcondition and moving equipment like swings andseesaws positioned away from static equipment,the odds are better that they will have a safe,enjoyable experience!

Younger children should be supervised by an adult on theplayground at all times.Ensure children only climb and play on equipmentappropriate to their age. Children younger than five maynot have the upper-body strength to climb equipment builtfor older children. Limit preschoolers to climbing up onlyfive feet and school-age children to seven feet.

Age-AppropriateActivities

Teach children to swing sitting down, not standing and notmore than one child to a swing at a time.Supervise young children and remind all children to staywell clear of active swings.Instruct children that going down a slide should only bedone feet first, not head first.Monitor slides so only one child is on the platform at a timeand is able to clear the bottom before another child beginsto slide.

Swings and Slides

Read park rules to children before they enter, andhelp to enforce them.Have children wear water shoes with non-skidsoles to avoid slips and falls.Remind children not to swallow or inhale waterfrom the jets.

Spray Parks

Discourage children from rough housing with orpushing other children.Encourage children to park their bikes andbackpacks away from the equipment.Ensure children are not wearing necklaces, purses,or clothes with drawstrings or cords to preventchoking injuries.

General Behavior

The well-respected Nemours Foundation states on itswww.kidshealth.org website that the following typesof equipment are not safe for playgrounds:

Unsafe Equipment

Animal figure swingsGlider swings for two childrenSwinging ropesExercise rings and trapeze barsMonkey barsTrampolines

(904) 519-6555

www.24hourkidcare.com

This summer, yourchildren's health isparamount. Keepingthem safe if just onestep. For moreinformation, contact24/7 Pediatric CareCenters today!