Safety is one of the most important aspects when it comes down to playgrounds for children. All of the equipment on the playground 안전놀이터 must be safety approved, and meet strict guidelines and requirements to guarantee minimal injuries during playtime. Playground surfaces should not be an exception. When choosing playground surfaces, the safety that each material offers should be one of the main considerations.
While there are many different playground surfaces available on the market for those constructing a playground, different playground surfaces possess their own advantages in hosting a safe environment. Among all the surfaces, rubber mats have become one of the most popular choices as they limit the amount of potential dangers around.
Similar to loose-filled materials the rubber mats are shock absorbers, and are great materials for environments that may experience earthquakes. In addition, they provide exceptional padding for falls and will limit the amount of injuries experienced; this soft padding will prevent a large amount of broken bones, sprained tendons and bruises experienced by the children playing on its surfaces. Remember that some children play rough.
Rubber mats provide an additional safety benefit that loose-filled materials cannot. Sand, shredded rubber and wooden chips can easily conceal dangerous items within their depths. Glass shards, pins and needles can easily be hidden among the content, and is extremely difficult to spot. In addition, loose-filled surfaces cannot be installed on top of hard surfaces, and will compress over time creating a harder surface than before. If it is not constantly renewed, the harder surface can also pose as a danger.
The flat surface of rubber mats allow dangers to be easily spotted, and for easier access for the children. There is less of a probability that children will trip over any obstacles when they are running around. This provides a huge convenience for them. Handicapped children who require wheelchairs or crutches will also vouch that rubber mat playground surfaces as more convenient and accessible.
The texture of playground surfaces is an aspect to question. Sand and wooden chips have a coarse texture to their surfaces that can scrape a child’s skin easily. In fact, many small scrapes and injuries are caused by the playground’s surface. Wooden chips are notorious for their splinters. One wrong move and a child will experience tens of splinters lodged into their skin. Sandy surfaces when wet become hard and coarse. All in all, loose-filled surfaces provide a potential where children can injure one another. Rubber mats, on the other hand, provide a smooth surface that lasts a good while.
Among the playground surfaces available on the market, rubber mats are definitely in the lead for their safety, and are highly recommended by many. While the price for installation may be a tad more expensive than the loose-filled materials, they require less renewals and maintenance over time. In addition, this type of surface has great durability, and will last for a long time to come.
Many accidents could be prevented by common sense, proper adult supervision and safety guarding equipment. Defective equipment, unacceptable surfaces, and careless behavior are safety hazards of many playgrounds. Most of these playground safety hazards could have been prevented with the proper supervision and appropriate safety precautions.
Moms, Dads and Caregivers can play a role in playground accident prevention by taking a few easy precautions. Foremost, ensure when your child has proper adult supervision. Adult supervision will help prevent injuries by monitoring proper playground behaviour, checking and ensuring playground equipment is safe for fun and is the right equipment for the age of the child, and the surface is appropriate – not uneven where trips and falls are likely. Should an unfortunate accident occur, an adult can help the child by giving first aid if necessary.
Accidents often caused on the playground when young children are permitted to play on equipment they are not ready to play on. Generally, monkey bars, climbing gyms or frames, long slides and the bigger swings are intended for the older child’s entertainment, not the young children. And vice versa, keeping older children off playground equipment deemed to young for their age group is important for their safety – some equipment may not hold their weight.
Appropriate dress code for the playground will also help in the prevention of accidents. Dress children for play, avoid ties and hoody tops or jackets which easily get caught in equipment, and could cause as serious an injury as strangulation. The appropriate footwear should be worn on playgrounds. Flops, sandals and open summery shoes can easily get stuck in equipment, and due to the shoe’s lack of grip, a slip or fall is more likely.
Avoid children being allowed to play on equipment that does not have safety cushioning, which is reinforced with a shock absorbing surface should a fall occur. Surfaces to play on are gravel, mulch, sand, or safety cushion mats. Children shouldn’t be allowed to swing, slide or climb over a concrete surface. Ground and wall cushioning are used in schools, playgrounds and sports areas -the surface has dramatically reduced the risk of injury from trips, falls and collisions.