Playground Safety Essentials Every Parent Must Consider

Outdoor safety is a concern for every parent, but it becomes more crucial if a little one is on the playground. Young children are less aware of the perils of the outdoors, making them more susceptible to mishaps. While reckless play is one reason they could get hurt, a lack of safety in playground design is another. Ensuring that the area has all the safety provisions for your child can give you peace of mind. Luckily, there are ways to evaluate a play area and assess its safety. The next time you take your kid to a community playground, look for these safety essentials to be extra sure. 

Check the surface

Kids run and jump outdoors, and the right kind of surface keeps them safe. Ideally, the surface should be non-slippery and provide for a soft landing in the event of slip and fall. Hard surfaces such as concrete, blacktop, grass, and packed earth are not the best as they do not adequately cushion falls. Conversely, sand, wood chips, mats, and rubber tiles offer better protection. In either case, you must keep an eye on the little one.

Look for trip hazards 

Slip and falls can cause injuries, regardless of the park surface. As a parent, you must look for trip hazards in the playground. Kids are likely to trip on the concrete footing, rocks, equipment, tree roots, and even on loose rubber tiles amid an enthusiastic play session. You can remove the hazard where possible and educate the child to be more watchful about them. 

Assess the equipment

A good look at the playground equipment should be next on your safety checklist. Cracks and exposed bolts can catch on clothes and skin, causing mishaps and injuries. You can raise a concern to the authorities and request them to install eco-friendly commercial playground equipment in your local park. The benefits of sustainable installations extend beyond saving the environment. You will also have to worry less about your kid touching, smelling, or licking them. 

Ensure no hazardous openings

Another factor to ensure is the hazardous openings that can lead to injuries. For example, check the space between ladder rungs and guardrails. The little ones may get themselves stuck in narrow openings. Likewise, they may slip through broad ones. Check the openings in cargo nets as well. Both broad and narrow ones are dangerous, so calculate and request a change if you notice something amiss. 

Evaluate the tall structures

Besides surface slips and getting stuck in openings, falls from tall structures make another critical safety concern for parents of young kids. The lack of guardrails can elevate the chances of your child falling from a slide or other high structures. You can do your bit to prevent accidental falls from elevated surfaces by ensuring they have guardrails or barriers. Anything that is elevated enough to pose a fall risk should be checked. 

Checking these safety essentials is vital, but you must also educate your child to create awareness of hazards. Know what kids can do and ensure you are always a step ahead of them.