Department of Emergency Services

Seasonal Tips

Safety on the Playground

Whether you’re taking your child to the playground or installing a play set in your yard, parents need to closely supervise children at the playground, inspect equipment closely and show their children the proper way to climb, ride, slide or swing on each piece. The Emergency Department at Saint Barnabas and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission offer these tips to ensure playground safety:

• Soften the Fall

Protective surfacing under and around all playground equipment is a critical safety factor on playgrounds. Asphalt and concrete are not suitable surfaces because they lack shock-absorbing properties. Grass and turf also should not be used because they wear away after repeated use. Use double shredded bark mulch, wood chips, fine sand or rubber mats. Protective surfacing should extend at least six feet in all directions from the equipment.  To cushion falls, surfaces should be maintained to a depth proportionate to the height of the equipment, but a 12-inch depth is a good guideline for equipment up to eight feet in height. 

• Keep Swings at a Safe Distance

Swings should not be too close together or too close to support structures. No more than two swing seats should be suspended in the same section and the distance between adjacent swing seats should be at least 24 inches. The distance between the swing seat and the adjacent structural component should be at least 30 inches. 

• Avoid Traps

Parents should make sure that spaces, which could trap children, such as openings in guardrails or between ladder rungs, measure less than 3.5 inches or more than 9 inches. Also, open “S” hooks, especially on swings, and any protrusions or equipment components that may act as hooks can catch children’s clothing and cause strangulation. Parents should close “S” hooks as tightly as possible and eliminate protruding pieces of equipment. 

• Check All Moving Parts and Surfaces

Make sure there are no exposed moving parts that may pinch or crush small fingers and inspect playground equipment on a regular basis for pieces that have become loose or worn. Metal equipment should be checked for rust, while wood structures should be inspected for splinters and sealed periodically. Climbing ropes should be secured at both ends. Observe any nails protruding from jungle gyms. Punctures from nails or other sharp materials should be given serious attention. 

• Look For Shade

If a swing set has a slide, be sure it is positioned in a shady spot so the metal slide will not become burning hot. Consider plastic playground equipment instead of metal to prevent burns. Also, plastic equipment may come with rounded edges instead of sharp metal pieces.

• Watch for Securely Anchored Equipment

Parents should examine swing sets to be sure they are securely anchored. This is especially important if the equipment has been installed on a slope. If several children climb on an unstable piece of equipment at the same time, the equipment could roll down the slope.