Safe Use of Playground Swings, Slides, and Climbing Structures

No parent wants a trip to the playground to result in a trip to the emergency room. Designers, installers, owners and maintainers of playgrounds, equipment and surfaces have primary responsibility to ensure that all required and even recommended standards are met, as such protocols and regulations are specifically tailored to minimize risks and prevent serious injuries. However, don’t assume that your child’s playground is safe for use – when choosing a playground for your kids to enjoy, you should pay attention to certain critical features. Choosing the right playground can help your kids avoid common injuries.

If you want to keep your kids safe during a trip to the park, keep the following tips in mind.

Playground surfaces

It’s not unusual that children will jump or fall from equipment during the various games they may be enjoying. A jump or a fall does not necessarily need to result in injury. Whether your child is likely to be injured when they leap or fall from playground equipment can have a lot to do with the nature of the surface on which the equipment rests.

Some playgrounds feature hard surfaces like concrete or asphalt. It is best to avoid these. Wood chips, pea gravel, or soft mats make for better surfaces. Natural grass may also be an acceptable surface, though you should still confirm that the ground is free of excessive rocks or even broken glass and other hazards that might be easy to miss.

Playground surfaces should comply with industry standards for spongy or soft surfaces, but be on the lookout for areas that may not be maintained properly, to help guard against injury.

Playground equipment

Examine the equipment your children will be playing on to identify any obvious signs of disrepair or other such issues that could increase the likelihood of a child getting hurt. Loose components, excessive rusting or other signs of age, and other such factors may be easy to spot. Even though primary responsibility rests with the entities responsible for safety at the playground location, you can still do your best to identify potential hazards when those entities have failed to adhere to applicable standards.

Just keep in mind that there are also potential hazards that are easy to miss when inspecting playground equipment. For example, look for loose screws or sharp edges, as these can result in cuts and abrasions. Generally, if you get the sense that a playground’s equipment has not been properly maintained, try to find another place for your kids to play.

Ask around

This is a particularly wise point to keep in mind if you are new to a neighborhood or region. Asking other parents whose opinions you trust and value to recommend safe playgrounds is often a smart way to determine where your children should play.

If you find out that a particular playground has a bad reputation or even a history of injury, you should steer clear of it.

Always check slides

Slides are some of the most popular types of playground equipment. No matter what type of slide your child may be enjoying, always inspect the surface at the bottom of the slide to make sure there are no hazards or debris that could cause injury when they land.

In addition, you want to confirm that slides have proper railings in key places for your children to hold on while they ascend and wait for their turn. Metal slides may get very hot on sunny days and during the summer. Try to avoid these as much as you can. If a metal slide is the only option and the playground otherwise seems safe, check the temperature of the slide surface first before allowing your child to use it.

Make sure your children know to never go down slides headfirst or to run up slides. In general, you should ensure that your children understand how to use playground equipment safely and wisely.

However, even if you do your part, it is possible your child may still be injured in a playground accident resulting from the negligence of another party. For example, maybe they were hurt while playing during recess at school because those responsible for monitoring them were not paying attention, or maybe they were hurt on playground equipment that was not properly maintained or was poorly designed or manufactured.

If your child was injured during a playground accident in Boston or the surrounding Massachusetts communities or New England states, you may be eligible for financial compensation. At Swartz & Swartz, P.C., our Boston child injury lawyers will review your case and help you better understand whether you have grounds to file an insurance claim or lawsuit. If we decide to take your case on and you decide to hire us, we are prepared to fight aggressively for the compensation you and your child may deserve.

Learn more by contacting us online or by calling us at (617) 742-1900 today to set up your free case review.

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