Playground Safety Tips

Ensure there is safe surfacing beneath and surrounding all playground equipment in order to minimize the risks of falling.

• Recommended surface materials include sand, pea gravel, wood chips, mulch and shredded rubber. Rubber mats, synthetic turf and other artificial materials are also safe surfaces and require less maintenance.

• Avoid playgrounds with asphalt, concrete, grass, dirt and soil surfaces under the equipment. A fall onto a shock absorbing surface is less likely to cause a serious injury than a fall onto a hard surface.

• Surfacing should be at least 12 inches deep and extend at least 6 feet in all directions around stationary equipment. Depending on the height of the equipment, surfacing may need to extend farther than 6 feet.

• For swings, make sure that the surfacing extends, in the back and front, twice the height of the suspending bar, so if the top of the swing set is 10 feet high, the surfacing should extend 20 feet.

Make sure that all playgrounds are inspected and maintained by qualified personnel.

• Daily, monthly and annual maintenance schedules should be followed.

• Maintain separate play areas for children under age 5.

• Ensure that schools and childcare centers have age-appropriate, well-maintained playground equipment and that trained supervisors are present at all times when children are on the playground.

• If there are any hazards in a public or backyard playground, report or fix them immediately and do not allow children to use the equipment until it is safe.

• Report any playground safety hazards to the organization responsible for the site (e.g., school, park authority, city council).

Always supervise children using playground equipment. Stay where you can see and hear them.

• Prevent unsafe behaviors like pushing, shoving, crowding and inappropriate use of equipment.

• Ensure that children use age-appropriate playground equipment.

• Remove hood and neck drawstrings from all children’s outerwear. Never allow children to wear helmets, necklaces, purses, scarves or clothing with drawstrings while on playgrounds.