According to a report by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 51% of playground injuries occur on public playgrounds. On those playgrounds, injuries most commonly occur on climbing equipment. Privately, the most common injuries are on swing sets. Because of this, it’s very important to teach your children how to be safe on playground equipment.
Although it’s impossible to ensure that your children are safe all the time, there are a few steps you can take to minimize the risk of them getting injured on playground equipment.
Check the Equipment
If it’s a new playground, be sure to check the playground equipment to see if it’s damaged or if there is anything that might cause an injury. This could mean a sharp object sticking out of the equipment or a piece of equipment not functioning properly. Even if you are at a playground you have been previously, be sure to walk around and keep an eye out for anything that could cause a problem or injury.
Set Ground Rules
You know your children best, so be sure to set rules on what they can and cannot do before you go to the playground. By setting expectations before you go, you can easily correct any behavior that occurs while they are playing. This also will help enforce what is expected if they are at a playground with friends and you aren’t there to monitor them. This is especially important if you have a child that pushes the boundaries of what they can do.
Wear Closed Toe Shoes
If you child is going to be running around a playground, be sure they are wearing proper shoes. If they aren’t wearing proper shoes, it becomes easier for your child to injure his or her feet. This is especially true at a public playground where there could be broken glass or sharp objects on the ground. By having your children in closed-toe shoes, they will be less likely to hurt their feet, twist their ankle, or stub their toe.
Watch Your Children Play
It’s really important that you or someone you trust is monitoring your child play. There is no way to prevent all injuries, and sometimes kids get injured. However, being able to respond as soon as it happens will reduce the risk of the injury turning into something worse, especially if it’s a serious injury.
There are a lot of ways for children to get injured while on a playground. If your child has been injured and believe someone else is responsible, please contact us or call us at 800-676-5295. We offer a free consultation to help you understand if you have a case and what your options are.
