subject: Child Safety [print this page] When buying new equipment or plans for home-built equipment, ask for written proof that what you are buying complies with the international standards. Statics say that every year more and more children are getting injured by using the playground equipment. Still, many manufacturers and designers of playground equipment do not comply with accepted safety standards. By taking a few steps, you can ensure that your childs play is one of joy, not tragedy.
Kids bodies tend to be smaller than their heads, so a space big enough to let a child wriggle through may not accommodate her head. To prevent strangulation, spaces and openings should be smaller than 3 inches or wider than 9 inches. Barriers should be low enough to keep the smallest child from going under and high enough to keep the biggest child from going over the top. Keep in mind, a young child is at risk when playing on equipment designed for older children. Closely supervise young children on any play equipment. Put a soft surface under all play equipment, such as wood chips, mulch, or shredded rubber. Hard surfaces such as concrete, asphalt and tile are dangerous because kids often trip or fall while playing. Dirt and grass, commonly used under playground equipment, do not protect children from head injuries.
Think about childrens play patterns when you position the equipment for example, dont set the slide so a child exiting at the bottom will be in the path of moving swings. Place the equipment at least six feet in all directions away from obstructions such as fences, buildings, trees, electric wires or laundry lines. Keep as far away as possible from streets and driveways. Consider erecting a fence between the equipment and traffic.
Maintain equipment properly, following the manufacturers guidelines. Check often to make sure bolts are tightly anchored; cut off or cap protruding bolt ends, should be flush with the surface, with no gaps or spaces that could create a hook. Inspect wood equipment for splinters and cracks. It is also a good idea to round off edges of wood with a sander. Sand it and apply a wood sealer according to the manufacturers recommendations. Make sure hooks and chains on swings arent worn or too rusty. Dont allow a free-swinging rope on equipment or on trees. Loose ropes can form a loop or noose and strangle a child. Ropes that are securely anchored to the ground are OK, as long as they arent frayed; a worn rope may not support a childs weight and may pose a strangulation hazard. Dont make a swing from a tire tied to a tree branch. There probably wont be enough clearance between the swing and the tree trunk, and your child could hit the tree and injure himself.
Always supervise children on the equipment. Kids shouldnt wear loose clothes or clothes with strings, which can catch on the equipment and cause strangulation. And never let them play on wet equipment. Bike or sporting helmets should never be worn on a playground. They can get caught in the equipment and increase the risk of choking or strangulation. Teach your kids to play safely. Make sure they know that walking in front of the swings or jumping off moving equipment is dangerous. Dont allow them to tie ropes of any kind to the equipment, or to swing empty seats. Inspect your day-care providers play equipment and make sure the staff supervises kids during play.
Buy him the play equipment that he wants to play with. Each child is different. Some children will be able to play with certain toys, or play independently outside at much younger ages than others. A child's ability to understand and follow rules will be a big factor in outdoor play, Many parents today use perimeter or area motion detector alarms to warn them when a child has overstepped the boundaries as an extension of an existing home alarm system. Other examples of dangerous toys can be choking, cutting and even poisoning hazards. Unfortunately, some toys are just plain dangerous. Be especially cautious with old or handed down toys. Take time to look up the item online to see if it is dangerous, or has been recalled. New toys should be clearly labeled with safety concerns and warnings, so be sure to read and follow them for good play time security and overall home security.
For more information on Child Safety you can visit http://koochieplay.com/
by: Sumedha Desai
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