Playground Safety Largely Depends on Kid-Friendly Surfaces, Well-Maintained Equipment and Adult Supervision

Here are some tips for playing it safe at the local playground:

* Avoid asphalt, concrete, grass and soil surfaces under playground equipment.

* Acceptable loose-fill materials include hardwood-fiber mulch or chips, pea gravel, fine sand and shredded rubber. Surfacing should be maintained at a depth of 12 inches and should extend a minimum of 6 feet in all directions around stationary equipment. Rubber mats, synthetic turf and other artificial materials also are safe surfaces and require less maintenance.

* Ensure that a comprehensive inspection of all playgrounds is conducted by qualified personnel.

* Abide by daily, monthly and annual playground maintenance schedules.

* Report any playground safety hazards to the organization responsible for the site (e.g., school, park authority, city council).

* Always supervise children when using playground equipment. Maintain visual and auditory contact.

* Prevent unsafe behaviors such as pushing, shoving, crowding and inappropriate use of equipment.

* Ensure that children use age-appropriate playground equipment.

* Remove hood and neck drawstrings from all children’s outerwear. Never allow children to wear necklaces, purses, scarves or clothing with drawstrings while on playgrounds.

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Here are some Web sites devoted to children’s safety:

https://dcn.davis.ca.us/~dpd /coloring.html (a police coloring book)

https://www.boatsafe.com

/kids/ (boat safety)

https://www.radrider.com/ (bike comic book)

https://www.bikehelmet.org /index2.html (helmet safety)

https://www.fda.gov/oc

/opacom/kids/default.htm (food safety)

https://www.smokeybear.com /cgi-bin/rbox/fr.cgi (Smokey the Bear)

https://www.usfa.fema.gov

/kids/ (FEMA fire page for kids)

https://city.wheaton.lib.il.us

/pd/kids.html (McGruff the crime dog)

https://www.kiddesafety.com /kiddesafety/Default.htm (Captain Kidde home safety)

https://www.cpsc.gov/kids /bb.html (product safety quiz for kids)

https://www.fbi.gov/kids /crimepre/internet/internet.htm (kids on Internet)

https://www.nhtsa.dot.gov

/kids/ (Safety City)

https://www.redcross.org

/disaster/safety/earth.html (Red Cross for kids)

https://www.kidsfood.org/ (kids and food)

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Sources: Times reports; National Safe Kids Campaign