Preventing playground injuries

Adults should always supervise children.

Check that children play on equipment that is appropriate for their age.

Check that the playground area is cushioned. A fall-zone should extend at least 6 feet in all directions from the equipment. Areas around swings should extend, in the back and front, twice the height of the suspending bar.

The fall area should be covered in a shock-absorbing material such as hardwood mulch, pea gravel, sand or synthetic materials, including poured-in-place rubber. Playground surfaces should not be concrete, asphalt, grass, blacktop or packed rocks.

Keep an eye out for potential dangers. Make sure that equipment is safely anchored to the ground; that platforms more than 30 inches off the ground have guardrails; that swings are at least 2 feet apart; there are no sharp edges or protruding bolts; that "S" hooks on swings are closed, so they cannot catch on children's clothing and pose a hazard.

Check that openings in guardrails and between ladder rungs are less than 3.5 inches wide or more than 9 inches, to prevent head entrapment.

Remove tree stumps, rocks or loose footing that could cause children to trip.

Sources: Consumer Product Safety Commission, National Program for Playground Safety.