It is that time of year again, gearing up for back to school: buying supplies,
checking lists, while children are looking forward to being with their
friends. The highlight of many children’s school day is recess,
that block of time they can be free and playful. While they are relishing
in play time, your concern is, are they safe on the playground?
According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commissions, more than 200,000 children are taken to the emergency rooms because of playground injuries. 80% of these injuries are caused by falls associated with climbing, swings, slides and overhead ladders.
To ensure your child is safe, the National Playground Safety Institute has identified some of the most common playground hazards that can cause injury. Some of those hazards to be aware of are:
- Protective surfacing - fall areas should contain wood chips, mulch, sand, shredded tires and should be 12 inches deep
- Protrusions and tripping hazards – hardware that can cut or catch including bolts, hooks, rungs, hardware that can catch strings
- Overcrowding areas – swings should be far enough away from each other and other areas so children will not get hit
- Maintained equipment – metal or wooden seats should be replaced with soft seats, no splintering or damaged equipment
- Platforms with no guardrails
- Children should always be supervised by an adult
- Children should not wear drawstring hoodies as it increases likelihood of getting snagged or caught
Children’s safety is at the forefront of parents’ minds, and it is imperative that their playground is equipped properly and well-maintained. Accidents do happen though and if your child has been injured due to faulty playground equipment, please contact The Gilbert Law Group®, located in the Denver, Colorado area at (303) 431-1111 to discuss your case. We represent clients nationwide.
