domestic playground equipment

About 51,000 kids sustain injuries every year on home playground equipment. Children can benefit from active play on backyard swing sets, climbing, jumping, and running. To ensure that your children stay safe while they play, follow basic guidelines for use, including proper design of the play area and ongoing supervision.

Equipment Zones

Equipment zones refer to the design and set up of playground pieces to facilitate active play. This configuration plays an important role in how kids use a playground and the number of injuries that occur. For example, a slide on one end of the equipment should not deposit a child at a location where collisions might occur with other youngsters who are climbing or swinging. Little ones using swings should not move back and forth where other kids are running. For optimal safety, areas such as slides, stationary climbing equipment, and swings should have at least 6 feet of empty space around them.

Protective Surfaces

Protective surfaces describe the materials on the ground beneath swing sets. The majority of injuries that occur on playgrounds occur when kids fall from elevated surfaces. The material they fall onto plays an important role in lessening the impact. Without suitable materials on the ground, children can sustain head injuries and other fractures. Suitable materials include shredded mulch, wood chips, and pea gravel. The depth of the materials on the ground depends on the type of materials and the height at which children will be climbing. For example, to protect youngsters from elevated surfaces of up to 9 feet, you would need 12 inches of uncompressed pea gravel or 9 inches of wood mulch.

Ongoing Maintenance

Playgrounds require regular maintenance to ensure they remain safe. Check the protective surface on the ground to ensure that it remains at the required depth. If necessary, replenish the mulch or gravel periodically to keep it effective. Ropes may fray or become worn over time, so replace them when necessary. Hardware can become loose or begin protruding from surfaces, which can cause injuries. Assess hardware regularly, tightening and replacing any worn parts. Check for rust or chipping paint on the equipment surfaces, and reapply fresh paint when necessary. Clean up debris from the play area regularly to prevent accidents.

Usage Guidelines

Swing sets typically have specific guidelines for safe usage. Adults should monitor youngsters as they play to ensure that they follow guidelines. For example, equipment often has a rating for a maximum weight or number of users at one time. It's also common for units to have designs for children of specific ages. Make sure that your children's ages match the design of the play set. If youngsters of a variety of ages play together on a playground, ensure that the older kids do not engage in activities that could cause injuries to younger children. Make rules for safe usage of your play set and enforce them consistently.

By maintaining swing sets carefully and supervising playtime, you can ensure that your youngsters enjoy their recreation time while engaging in beneficial outdoor exercise.