Playground safety

Playground equipment is the leading cause of injuries to children. Nearly 50,000 home playground accidents occur in the United States every year. Kids of all ages can be hurt if play equipment is unsafe — but children under age five are especially at risk for serious injury.

Playing it safe doesn't mean your kids can't enjoy backyard play equipment, it just means you need to take precautions to protect them. Keep your backyard playground safe by following these tips:

Install and maintain a shock-absorbing surface around home play equipment, since most injuries occur when a child falls from the equipment onto the ground. Use at least 9 inches of wood chips, mulch, shredded rubber, "pea" gravel, sand or surfacing mats made of safety-tested rubber-like materials.

Place protective surfacing at least 6 feet in all directions from play equipment. For swings, extend the surfacing so it's twice the height of the suspending bar both in front and back.

Firmly anchor swing sets to avoid tipping. Look for equipment that comes with its own anchoring device and includes detailed assembly instructions.

Never attach, or allow children to attach, ropes, jump ropes, clotheslines, or pet leashes to play equipment. Children can strangle when these loose ends dangle from swings, slides or play towers. Loose strings on clothing can also cause accidental strangulation if caught on play equipment.

Check for dangerous hardware, like open "S" hooks or protruding bolt ends.
Look for spaces that could trap your child, such as openings in guardrails or between ladder rungs. These spaces should measure less than 3.5 inches or more than 9 inches.

Make sure elevated platforms and ramps have guardrails to help prevent falls.
Select a swing set with soft material seats. Swing seats made of wood or metal cause more severe injuries upon impact than soft seats.

Look for anything that might cause your child to trip. Remove tripping hazards, like exposed concrete footing, tree stumps and rocks from the play area.

Check play equipment and surfacing regularly to make sure both are in good condition. Smooth out sharp points, edges or rough wood as soon as you spot them.

Double check chains, loose supports, anchors, footing, protective caps, nuts and bolts before your child begins to play on the equipment for the first time.

Never use wood preservatives that contain creosote or other known chemical carcinogens on wooden play equipment.

Carefully supervise children on play equipment, even in your own backyard. Teach your kids some basic playground rules. For example, warn them not to climb on the very top of the play set, not to climb with a stick in their mouth, and not to wear a poncho or jacket with hood and strings attached when playing on the structure.