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| SAFETY TIPS - KIDS |
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SAFE KIDS … Are No Accident
15 Ways to keep your kids safe on the Playground
Check the Children
- Remove all cords and drawstrings from clothing. Safely tuck in scarves, tie and tuck in shoelaces, and other clothing (cords, hat ties, etc.) that could get caught on equipment.
- Do not let children wear bicycle helmets or other helmets, because the chinstrap or the helmet itself could get caught on the equipment.
- Make sure that children do not play on the playground in bare feet. Bare feet can get burned by hot surfaces and cut by sharp objects. Toes can get caught in gaps and spaces.
Supervision
- Stay within reach of children under 5 years old at all times. Spot them on the equipment and be there when their hands or feet slip.
- Closely watch all water play. Children can drown in a few inches of water in a matter of minutes.
- Encourage children to play safe by waiting their turn and knowing that there should be only one child at a time on the equipment.
- Make sure that children sit on swings, go down slides feet first and hold on to hand grips and railings.
- Children should only play on equipment designed for their age and level of ability. If a child cannot reach the equipment then he or she is too small to play on the equipment.
- Stop bullying behaviour.
Check the equipment
- Remove all ropes and skipping ropes that are tied to slides and other equipment.
- Make sure that there are no gaps or spaces in the equipment, and that there are no sharp points, nuts, bolts, or other parts that can hurt or cut children.
- Check that there are adequate guardrails and handrails to prevent falls and that pieces of the play equipment are located far enough apart from one another.
- The slides should have guardrails at the top and continuous handrails from the top to the bottom of the ladder.
- Remove any equipment parts that can tangle clothing or anything else around a child’s neck.
Make sure that there is an impact-absorbing surface under the equipment to help cushion falls and reduce injuries. Lawns, earth and asphalt are all unsafe surfaces.
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