Playgrounds: fun without tears

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What do I need to know about playgrounds?

• Although reasonably common, most injuries in the playground are not very serious, and fatal incidents are rare.
• Playgrounds are much safer since the introduction of stricter Australian Standards for playgrounds in 1996. All playground equipment must, as a minimum, comply with these standards.

Cuts and bruises and a few tears are the most likely dramas at playgrounds. But falls from playground equipment can also lead to injuries.

The most common injuries at the playground are fractures and dislocations resulting from falls from equipment (such as climbing frames, monkey bars, slides).  Between 2002-04 over 12 000 children visited hospital due to falls from playground equipment. One-third of these falls were caused by climbing equipment (such as monkey bars and climbing frames) and one-quarter were caused by trampolines.

Monkey bars are the most likely cause of injuries, though falls from slides, swings, trampolines and climbing frames are also common.

The chance of an injury is greater for preschool and primary school-aged children, who are still developing body strength and judgement skills. Toddlers also fall often because they are top-heavy.

Having fun and being safe

It’s best to keep an eye on your children when at the playground. By staying close to your children (especially when they are trying more complicated activities) you can help keep playground visits safe and still provide fun play and learning opportunities for them.

Tips for preventing accidents

• If you buckle your children into the swings they're far less likely to fall out.
• Try to keep a close watch on older children swinging from the monkey bars and the flying fox – that’s where they're most likely to fall. Encourage your child to attempt monkey bars when they have developed the upper body strength to support their own weight and are tall enough to reach the bars on their own. 
• If you do want to let your children test their limits, stay close by so you can help if they get into trouble
• Without scaring them too much, try to convince children not to do any of the following, which all present a high risk of dangerous falls: 
  
  • climbing on top of the monkey bars
  • jumping from the top of the slide/climbing frame
  • standing on swings
  • going head first down slides, tubes or poles
  • sitting on or climbing over guardrails or barriers
  • running down slides
• Look for a safe ground surface in your playground – where equipment is set in a thick layer of certified organic mulch or soft rubber flooring (about 300 mm deep is recommended). If hard surfaces are exposed or mulch levels are too low, report this to your local council so they can fix it.
• A fence around a playground prevents young children from escaping on to the road – this makes it much easier if you are looking after several children at once.
• It's safest for children under three to stick to playground equipment less than a metre in height.
• It's safest for children three to five years to stick to playground equipment less than 1.5 metres in height such as small slides and rockers.
• Even older children should avoid climbing higher than two metres off the ground.
• Discourage your children from encouraging other kids to take risks they're not ready for, or from being teased or bullied into things themselves.

What about trampolines?  

Trampolines are great fun and kids love them. But they are also a common source of backyard injuries.

Safety tips for using trampolines

• Wait until your child is older than six before getting a trampoline.
• Try to make sure your trampoline has safety pads to cover the frame and springs, or even one with a safety net installed around the sides. Whether it's old or new, keep your trampoline well sprung and in good condition.
• Create a safe, clear area of 2.5 metres around the trampoline with a soft surface such as grass just in case a child does fall, or set it in a pit dug in the ground.
• Always supervise children when they are using a trampoline.
• Teach children the following guidelines for safe trampoline use:    
  • jump in the centre of the mat
  • only one child at a time
  • jump with bare feet (no shoes)
  • only use when the mat is dry
  • keep toddlers away while the trampoline is in use
  • avoid somersaults, as these can cause neck and spinal injuries.

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