How To Ensure Residential Playground Safety This Summer

Summer is a time of fun, enjoyment, and plenty of activities for children. Parents often take their children outside to play when the weather is good. Here is how to ensure residential playground safety this summer so you and your children can enjoy a safe, injury free summer season.

Parents or adults should check the playground equipment often for safety. This includes checking to ensure that the equipment is securely bolted to the ground, that there are no hazards such as rust, splinters or rough edges that can snag and cut. Also, make sure that the surface areas of the equipment are not hot or otherwise worn with use.

You can ensure your child's safety by checking that the ground underneath the equipment has fall safe materials such as bark, rubber pellets or soft sand in which the children can land on if they fall off the equipment. This is used to prevent injuries and make sure that the children remain safe.

Check the equipment for any wear and tear and make sure that bolts and S hooks are properly placed to avoid strangulation incidents. The playground should be free from any debris trash or litter and check the sandbox for any broken glass and other hazards that could harm the children. If these are found, keep the children away as you dispose of the hazard and ensure that is placed in the proper trash containers or receptacles with a lid.

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If it is hot outside make sure the children stay well hydrated and wear protective clothing and sunscreen. If the temperature rises to a heat index of 90 degrees Fahrenheit or above take the children inside to further ensure their safety from the heat.

You can get the children to participate in safety checks of the equipment and playground area as well and if they find any hazards to report it to you immediately and not to touch it. This will help them to learn to be safe and to stay safe while they are playing on the equipment. It raises their awareness and this goes a long way in making sure they know how to stay safe.

If you find a hazard on the playground that cannot be fixed right away, rope off the equipment in question and call a maintenance team to come and fix or replace the equipment. For residential equipment, you can remove the offending piece and have it replaced with a new one. If there are ropes or other hanging devices, ensure that they are attached properly to avoid choking or strangulation accidents.

Also, do not let children wear bicycle helmets when playing on the equipment as this can pose a choking hazard if the straps get caught in the equipment during play. Using these tips can help to avoid accidents and make sure that your children enjoy safe play this summer. Take the time out to do safety checks and inform children of good practices while playing. Also, make sure that there is constant adult supervision from one or more adults in the area while children are playing.