Playground Safety Tips

October 5, 2022 | by: Amanda

Neighborhoods across Orange County have numerous family friendly parks and playgrounds to visit. Sending time at the park is exciting for many kids, and gives them the opportunity to be active outdoors and discover different ways to play on the playground. While play structures can be a ton of fun for kids, they oftentimes do not expect dangers or risks on the playground. As a parent, it is best to be prepared and aware of playground safety practices before spending a day at the park. 

Dress For Playground Safety

Dressing properly for the playground is an easy way to prepare kids for a safe day of play. Living in southern California, we are lucky to have sunny and warm days nearly year round. During warmer days, it can be easy for kids to overheat while being active on a playground. Because of this, dressing appropriately for the weather can prevent overheating and allow kids to comfortably and safely play. It is important to remember to avoid wearing hooded jackets with strings or cords which can easily get caught in playground equipment. Similarly, avoiding wearing scarves, long necklaces, dresses, or purses helps prevent kids from getting stuck or injured and avoids accidental strangulation.

Inspect The Playground For Hazards

Walking around the playground to take a quick sweep of the area for any potential hazards is an easy step to avoid preventable injuries. Checking for sharp objects such as broken glass, tripping hazards, or any hazardous equipment can help prevent common playground injuries. Taking a look around the playground area can also help parents stay aware of the types of play equipment that require more active supervision or areas to avoid for younger aged children. Also, checking for safe playground surfacing can prevent falls or serious injuries on hazardous surfaces, such as concrete, dirt, or gravel. 

Use Age-Appropriate Play Equipment 

Encouraging kids to use age-appropriate play equipment is a smart and safe way to prevent accidents and injuries on the playground. Understanding your child’s development and abilities is also important in helping guide them towards play equipment that is safe for their skill level. It is common for some kids to want to test their limits and try new things when playing on the playground. Knowing your child’s strengths and monitoring them while they use more challenging equipment is the best way to prevent injuries on play equipment. 

Actively Supervise When Climbing, Sliding, or Swinging

Accidents can occur at any time while kids are playing, so actively supervising and being prepared to intervene on the playground can help prevent serious injuries. Climbing equipment and monkey bars most frequently cause dangerous falls which is why actively monitoring kids on these types of play equipment are the most important. Oftentimes kids can not anticipate dangerous situations on the playground, such as keeping adequate distance from someone on a swing. Adults supervising can help mitigate situations that kids may not expect to be risky or dangerous, while also being able to provide first aid care immediately after an accident. 

Most Common Cause of Playground Injuries

Falls off of monkey bars, swings, climbing structures, etc. are the most common cause of playground injuries that result in emergency room visits. The surface beneath the playground equipment is an important element that often determines the severity of injury after a child falls on the ground. As kids fall, it is common to instinctively put an arm out to protect themselves. However, oftentimes the impact from a fall results in a fractured arm or elbow, especially on hard surfaces such as concrete or asphalt. 

Injuries caused by poorly designed playgrounds have the potential for a premises liability claim which can be handled by experienced Orange County personal injury attorneys at Callahan & Blaine. Working with an attorney can help your family recover compensation for the most common playground injuries including broken bones, sprains, and head and brain injuries such as concussions.