The document provides essential tips for ensuring playground safety to prevent injuries, highlighting the importance of supervision, appropriate equipment for children's ages, and safety practices while playing. It emphasizes the need for safe surfaces, monitoring equipment like swings and slides, and restricting certain unsafe playground gear. Parents are encouraged to enforce park rules and ensure children wear non-skid shoes to minimize the risk of accidents.

1. ALL ABOUT
PLAYGROUND
SAFETY
KEEP KIDS SAFE ON THE PLAYGROUND

2. If you’re planning to visit a play park or
playground this summer, we have some tips
about playground safety.
Although playgrounds are an excellent setting
for exercise and fun, we at 24/7 Pediatric Care
Centers know that more than 200,000 children
are treated in the emergency room for
playground-related injuries each year. Generally
speaking, if your children’s playground has a safe
(soft and thick) surface, with equipment in good
condition and moving equipment like swings and
seesaws positioned away from static equipment,
the odds are better that they will have a safe,
enjoyable experience!

3. Younger children should be supervised by an adult on the
playground at all times.
Ensure children only climb and play on equipment
appropriate to their age. Children younger than five may
not have the upper-body strength to climb equipment built
for older children. Limit preschoolers to climbing up only
five feet and school-age children to seven feet.
Age-Appropriate
Activities

4. Teach children to swing sitting down, not standing and not
more than one child to a swing at a time.
Supervise young children and remind all children to stay
well clear of active swings.
Instruct children that going down a slide should only be
done feet first, not head first.
Monitor slides so only one child is on the platform at a time
and is able to clear the bottom before another child begins
to slide.
Swings and Slides

5. Read park rules to children before they enter, and
help to enforce them.
Have children wear water shoes with non-skid
soles to avoid slips and falls.
Remind children not to swallow or inhale water
from the jets.
Spray Parks

6. Discourage children from rough housing with or
pushing other children.
Encourage children to park their bikes and
backpacks away from the equipment.
Ensure children are not wearing necklaces, purses,
or clothes with drawstrings or cords to prevent
choking injuries.
General Behavior

7. The well-respected Nemours Foundation states on its
www.kidshealth.org website that the following types
of equipment are not safe for playgrounds:
Unsafe Equipment
Animal figure swings
Glider swings for two children
Swinging ropes
Exercise rings and trapeze bars
Monkey bars
Trampolines

8. (904) 519-6555
www.24hourkidcare.com
This summer, your
children's health is
paramount. Keeping
them safe if just one
step. For more
information, contact
24/7 Pediatric Care
Centers today!