Outdoor playsets are a creative way for your kids to use their imagination, pretending they are sailing on a pirate ship, flying through the skies in an airplane, or even exploring ancient ruins. It is also a great form of exercise, without them even suspecting what you’re up to.
Unfortunately, each year thousands of children wind up in hospital emergency rooms because they are injured on play equipment, whether from falling or getting cut by bolts and sharp edges. Some even die due to injuries like getting hit in the head with swings or suffocating because their heads caught between rails. It’s horrible, but reality is not always pretty. And many of these injuries on outdoor playsets could have been prevented.
There are ways to make sure your kids and their friends have a reduced chance of injury while playing. Sure, some things like scrapes and bruises will always happen—it’s all part of the growing process, but others can be prevented with a little forethought and planning. Here are some basic tips to help ensure your outdoor playground equipment is as safe as possible and provide years of fun.
Location, first of all, is the main key to providing safety for outdoor playsets. You want to find a spot that is nice and flat, so there’s no risk of the set falling over on top of your kids. You also want to find a location that’s at least ten feet away from fences, trees, and power lines.
And one more thing most people don’t ever think of is that when placing your set it’s a good idea to situate it so that the slide faces North. This is so it doesn’t get hot over the course of the day and burn someone—you’d be surprised how hot it can actually get, especially with a metal slide in the middle of Dallas.
And finally, make sure you place the set where you can easily see it from inside your home—preferably where you spend most of your time. Grade the surface of the ground before setting up your playset as well. There are a few good reasons for doing this. One is that it will ensure the set is on a level surface and give you the ability to bury the legs a little for added security from tipping over. Then, once all the rocks and other debris are removed, it can provide a softer landing in case your child does fall. You can even back fill the area with some soft sand for extra cushion.
Your child should only be allowed to play under some kind of adult supervision, and younger children should never be left unsupervised at all. For older kids, an window open will suffice, so you can hear them playing and check on them regularly. Many accidents could have been prevented had the parents only been paying closer attention.
Also, make sure that the equipment is safety-checked on a regular basis, looking for loose bolts, rough spots, and rust. Rust can be removed with some steel wool, if you find that the equipment is starting to get wobbly, and that also provides a good time to tighten everything up. Outdoor playsets can be wonderful entertainment for you child for many years—just take the proper precautions to ensure they are safe.