It is estimated that in recent years, there have been more than 200,000 injuries annually on U.S. public playgrounds that required a trip to the emergency room. To reduce the risk of playground-related deaths and injuries, follow these recommended guidelines from CPSC to create a safer playground environment for all children. The handbook touches on the following public playground safety issues:
- Potential of falls from, and impact with equipment
- Need for impact attenuating protective surfacing under and around equipment
- Openings with head entrapment potential
- Scale of equipment and other design features related to user age and layout of equipment on a playground
- Installation and maintenance procedures
- General hazards presented by protrusions, sharp edges, and crush or shear points
- Supervision and sight lines
A complete Playground Safety Checklist is included in the handbook and can be used when deciding on a public playground for your children. Ensure that the safety of each individual piece of playground equipment as well as the layout of the entire play area is considered when designing or evaluating a playground for safety.
Childcare personnel, school officials, parks and recreation personnel, equipment purchasers and installers, playground designers, and any other members of the general public concerned with public playground safety and interested in evaluating their respective playgrounds should refer to the complete handbook listing from CPSC Public Playground Safety Handbook.
