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Early Childhood Safety Guide #5 - Playgrounds

by Susan S. Aronson, MD
September/October 1994
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Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/early-childhood-safety-guide-5-playgrounds/5009964/

Use this checklist to find hazards. Whenever a hazard is found, fix it if you can. If you cannot fix it, make a note of it and plan to get it fixed. Safety checks should be done at least once a month. Having different people do the safety checks helps find more hazards. The more people who are involved in watching for hazards, the more they will help fix hazards whenever they see them. Safety is everyone's business!

Yes No

_ _ The playground offers a wide range of parallel and interactive activities.

_ _ All surfaces underneath play equipment are covered with 10 to 12 inches of impact-absorbing material such as sand, wood chips, or pea gravel, or with a manufactured energy-absorptive surface which is under and extends at least 6 feet on all sides of the equipment.

_ _ Surfaces are raked weekly to remove litter, sharp objects, and animal feces.

_ _ Stagnant pools of water are not present.

_ _ All pieces of play equipment are at least 8 feet apart.

_ _ Boundaries such as railroad ties, low bushes, benches, or painted lines separate play equipment from walking areas.

_ _ Bike or trike riding areas are separate from other equipment.

_ _ Playgrounds are fenced in.

_ _ Exposed concrete or hard anchoring material is covered.

_ _ There are no ...

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