TKW Consulting

• More than 75,000 children in the United States are injured on backyard play equipment each year. More than one-third of these injuries are serious enough to cause fractures, concussions, amputations or internal injuries.
• Each year, nearly 20 children ages 14 and under die from playground equipment-related injuries. Most deaths from playground equipment are from falls or strangulation.
• Protective surfacing below and around playground equipment (at least six feet in all directions) is the number one change a parent can make to prevent serious injury.

• Get written proof that the equipment you're buying complies with standard F1148-93 of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), which means it passes a set of strict safety design tests.
• Make sure there is a soft-surface safety zone six to 12 inches deep underneath the equipment. Some excellent choices include wood chips, mulch, pea gravel, sand or shredded tires.
• Place play equipment at least six feet away from all obstructions, including fences, trees, buildings, electrical wires or laundry lines.
• Keep equipment as far away as possible from streets and driveways.
• Create safe play patterns for your children. For example, make sure the sliding board exit area is not in the swing path.
• Swings should hang a minimum of 24 inches apart and should be at least 30 inches from the outer structures.
• Install and maintain equipment according to manufacturer's guidelines. See the checklist below for routine playground maintenance tips.
• Do not make a tree swing from a tire. There is usually not enough clearance between the tire and the tree trunk.
• Always supervise your children and teach them to play safely.
• Don't allow them to wear loose clothing that could catch and cause strangulation.
• Never let them play on wet equipment.

Inspecting and maintaining equipment
If you purchase used equipment, make sure there is no obvious damage to the structure, you have all the parts and you can get the owner's manual. To make sure the item hasn't been recalled, contact the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at 1-800-638-2772.

Check your equipment and surrounding areas for these danger signs, and make repairs or replacements:

• Hardware that is loose, worn or protruding. "S" hooks or protruding bolt ends can easily catch on children's clothing.
• Scattered debris, litter, rocks or tree roots
• Splinters, large cracks, decayed wood and missing or damaged equipment
• Rusting or peeling paint

Spending time outdoors and having a playground in your back yard is a lot of fun, but don't forget that child safety is important. Oh, I can hardly wait for those nice sunny days...

// posted by Tammy Wachter @ 5:13 PM