Mountain States Health Alliance

Frequently Asked Questions

Playground Safety

Home, school and neighborhood playgrounds are a great place for kids to get exercise and socialize with other children. But they can be dangerous places, too. That’s why parents should inspect all playgrounds used by their children, including playgrounds in their own yards, to make sure they are as safe as possible. In addition to always supervising children while they are using a playground, here are a few guidelines to follow:

Keep debris such as rocks, roots or garbage away from the play area.
Make sure any platforms or walkways have barriers such as guardrails to prevent falls.
Check for splinters, cracked plastic, rust and other signs of deterioration.
No more than two swing seats should be suspended from a swing structure.
There should be plenty of soft material under and around play equipment – hardwood chips, mulch, pea gravel and sand are good options – and it should be at least 9 inches deep.
Allow plenty of space between play equipment.
Be aware that a child can get his or her head stuck in a space as small as 3.5 inches.
Make sure your kids know not to stand behind or in front of another child who is swinging.