Keep your child safe this Summer with these Playground
Safety tips!
Each year, about 200,000 children are treated in U.S. hospital
emergency rooms for playground equipment-related injuries. An estimated
148,000 of these injuries involve public playground equipment and an
estimated 51,000 involve home playground equipment. Most of the injuries
are the result of falls.
Since almost
60% of all injuries are caused by falls to the ground, protective surfacing
under and around all playground equipment can reduce the risk of serious
head injury. No Fault Safety Surface can help prevent critical head
injuries to your child.
Avoid playgrounds with non-impact absorbing surfaces, such as asphalt,
concrete, grass, dirt or gravel, as they lose their ability to absorb shock
through wear and environmental conditions. Always use protective surfacing
on your playground! Certain loose-fill surfacing materials are acceptable,
such as rubber mulch.
Summer brings long, hot days, which are perfect for water
play, travel or a trip to the playground. It is important to remember that
excessive heat can be a hazard! Heat-related illness can occur when your
body can't properly cool itself. To avoid wilting in the heat, go to the
playground before 10:00 a.m. or after 3:00 p.m., rest often in shady spots,
wear UVA/UVB sunscreen and most importantly stay hydrated!
Before you visit a playground, check to make sure that play
areas are designed to allow an adult to see children clearly while they're
playing on all the equipment. Adult supervision can help prevent injuries
by making sure kids properly use playground equipment and don't engage in
unsafe behavior around it. Always supervise, and teach your child safe
play!
For more information regarding playground safety and injury
prevention, you can visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission website at
www.cpsc.gov.
|
