Active play has countless benefits. Properly supervised play areas equipped with materials that are developmentally appropriate, properly installed, and carefully maintained, encourage important creative learning. A thoughtfully planned playground offers endless opportunities for safe and challenging fun.

At the same time, attention to playground safety is a critical priority. Consider these statistics, courtesy of the National Program for Playground Safety:

• A total of 200,000 children suffer reported injuries on America's playgrounds each year.
• Sixty percent of playground injuries among children under age 4 are to the face and head.
• Falls to surfaces represent 70% of reported injuries and are a major factor in more than 150,000 injuries each year.
• The largest number of playground injuries occur during the first few weeks of a new school year on school playgrounds and at the beginning of the summer months on park playgrounds.
• Poor maintenance is a contributing factor in at least 30% of playground injuries.

1. Design age-appropriate playgrounds.
2. Provide proper surfacing under and around playground equipment.
3. Provide proper supervision on playgrounds.
4. Properly maintain playgrounds.

Donna Thompson, PhD, associate professor of physical education at the University of Northern Iowa and director of the National Program for Playground Safety, knows the facts and figures on playground safety, and she also knows that many useful precautions are easily implemented. Maintenance staff can be instructed to check each morning to see that the playground area is clear of debris and that surfacing beneath equipment is adequate and scrupulously maintained. Staff in-service training can feature discussion of proper supervision and the importance of seeing that caregivers are not distracted or engaged in conversation with other adults during playground time. Child care center directors can limit the amount of equipment, so that swings and slides have adequate fall areas, and make physical changes to close off "hiding places" outside caregivers' line of vision.

Dr. Thompson underscores the importance of attentive supervision. "Equipment will not supervise the children", Dr. Thompson says. "Adults need to do that." Caregivers should be present on the playground, and their attention should be focused on the children. They should be sensitive to the balance between a child's size and developmental ability, and the need for safe physical challenges. The should know how to distinguish between a developmentally appropriate challenge and a hazardous situation. They should be familiar with simple precautions, such as removing collar strings from children's clothing to prevent entanglement and strangulation.

Not all child care providers have elaborate playground equipment; the same can be said about many public playgrounds. Caregivers visiting a new playground should quickly scan the area for compliance with the SAFE acronym (Supervision, Age appropriateness, sufficient surface cushion and space for Falls, Equipment that meets federal guidelines and is well-maintained). "See whether or not the surfacing at the bottom of any of the equipment has been filled in with impact-absorbing materials," Dr. Thompson says. "That's extremely important underneath slides and swings. If it's fairly new, the poles that go into the ground should have strips around them near the bottom, that will show how thick the surface needs to be." Newer equipment will also have signs indicating whether it is designed for children 2-5 years of age, or children 5-12 years of age.

Considerations of this nature are addressed in more detail in the Safety Checklist for Active Play Areas, which is enclosed with this issue of the Healthy Child Care America newsletter. The checklist, reprinted from the Model Child Care Health Policies developed by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, is also available on its Web site: (http://www.voicenet. com/~piaaap/). It is intended to help child care professionals identify and correct some of the more common safety hazards.

Since the l991 passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, playground design has begun to reflect an interest in encouraging access for children with disabilities. More and more playgrounds now incorporate stable paths paved with wood fiber, rubber mats, or other materials that will accommodate wheelchairs. Transfer stations can be built to help physically challenged children get on and off equipment safely. Adjacent wheelchair parking spaces and wider platforms can allow disabled children to join in the fun. Different textures and colors for paths and handrails can ease the way for visually impaired children. (The federal government will soon release an interpretation of the Americans with Disabilities Act for playgrounds. Specific questions can be directed to the National Program for Playground Safety.)

A short list of further resources follows. To inquire about activities in your state, or to ask other specific questions, contact the National Program for Playground Safety at 800/554-PLAY

Resource List on Playground Safety

To find out more about the National Program for Playground Safety's National Action Plan for the Prevention of Playground Injuries, supplemental brochures for caregivers and parents, and videos for caregiver education, call 800-554-PLAY, or check its website at (http://www.uni.edu/playground).

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (800-638-2772; http://www.cpsc.gov) provides the Handbook for Public Playground Safety and other materials.

The American Society for Testing and Materials (610/832-9585) provides detailed information on safety standards for equipment and surfacing.

The American Association for Leisure and Recreation (800/3210789) publishes books and check lists on playground safety.

The Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards: Guidelines for Out-of Nome Child Care Programs text, and the Caring for Our Children 6-part video series include standards that address playground safety in detail. Both are available through the American Academy of Pediatrics' Publications Department (800-433-9016).

Model Child Care Health Policies published by the Pennsylvania Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, 3rd edition, 1997, is available through the American Academy of Pediatrics' Publications Department (800-433-9016).

Stepping Stones to Using Caring for Our Children, which addresses selected elements from Caring for Our Children, can be ordered free of charge from the National Maternal and Child Health Clearinghouse (703-356-1964; nmchc@circsol.com). Stepping Stones is also published on the Web site for the National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care (http://www.nrc.uchsc.edu).

Safe Active Play: A Guide to Avoiding Play Area Hazards, a 34-minute videotape produced by Video Active Productions of Newark Delaware, may be ordered through the American Academy of Pediatrics' Publications Department (800-433-9016).

Safety Checklist for Active Play Areas

The following checklist is based primarily on the recommendations of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission as specified in their Handbook for Public Playground Safety, 1994 and the current ASTM standards. Not every recommendation is included in this checklist; refer to the handbook for complete information. Successfully completing this checklist will help you make your play area safer.

You will need a yardstick and/or measuring tape to complete this checklist.

By checking "Yes" below, you confirm that the recommendation has been met or that a hazard is NOT present. When you check "No", be sure to make a corrective action plan on the last page of the checklist.

Surfacing

Measure the highest point that a child can climb to (critical height). For swings, the critical height is measured from the pivot point where the swing is suspended down to the ground. For elevated structures with guard rails, the critical height is measured from the top of the guard rail down to the ground. The highest accessible part for platforms with protective barriers is the deck. For all other structures, the critical height is measured from the highest point of the structure down to the ground.
Yes ___ No___

Surfaces underneath indoor and outdoor play equipment that children can climb are covered with impact absorbing material according to the following CPSC recommendations for critical height.
Yes ___ No___

The following surfacing materials are not in use underneath indoor and outdoor play equipment that children can climb: asphalt, concrete, soil or hard-packed dirt, grass, turf, linoleum, or carpeting.
Yes ___ No___

The dirt in the play area has been tested and found free of toxic materials, including lead.
Yes ___ No___

There are no toys or objects (including surfacing material) with a diameter less than 11/4 inch accessible to children who are still placing objects in their mouths.
Yes ___ No___

Fall Zones

Fall zones (the areas onto which a child falling from or exiting from a piece of play equipment would be expected to land) do not overlap.
Yes ___ No___

Impact-absorbing surfacing material extends at least 6 feet beyond all sides of the equipment.
Yes ___ No___

For to-fro swings: the impact-absorbing surfacing material extends in front and in back of the swings a distance that measures twice the height of the swing beam.
Yes ___ No___

For slides: the impact-absorbing surfacing material extends at least 6 feet from the end of the slide chute, or a distance that equals the height of the slide platform + 4 feet, whichever is greater. (It is not necessary for surfacing material to exceed 14 feet).
Yes ___ No___

Protrusion & Entanglement

All metal edges are rolled.
Yes ___ No___

There are no equipment pieces that could catch clothing. There are no strings or loose items on children's clothing or around children's necks that could get caught on play equipment.
Yes ___ No___

Any exposed bolts do not protrude more than two threads beyond the face of the nut; exposed bolts have no burrs or sharp edges.
Yes ___ No___

There are no open "S" hooks.
Yes ___ No___

Entrapment

There are no openings in any pieces of active play equipment between 31/2 and 9 inches that could cause head entrapment.
Yes ___ No___

Equipment Spacing

There are at least 6 feet of use space on all sides of each piece of equipment.
Yes ___ No___

Play equipment pieces are spaced at least 12 feet apart from each other (each has its own 6 foot use space).
Yes ___ No___

Traffic patterns are designed to prevent children from bumping into each other.
Yes ___ No___

Trip hazards

All anchoring devices, such as footings and bars at the bottom of climbers, are below the playing surface.
Yes ___ No___

There are no exposed tree/plant roots.
Yes ___ No___

Changes in elevation are made obvious by the use of brightly colored visual or other barriers.
Yes ___ No___

Appropriate activities & equipment

Age-specific play areas are separated by distance or a physical barrier.
Yes ___ No___

Equipment is warranted by the manufacturer as suitable for the age of the users (2-5 years and 5-12 years) according to ASTM Standard F1487-95.
Yes ___ No___

Pinch Crush & Shearing points

All spaces are too big or too small to entrap a child's finger.
Yes ___ No___

All wooden parts are smooth and without splinters.
Yes ___ No___

All corners are rounded, especially at exit ends and sides along a slide bed.
Yes ___ No___

Exposed ends of tubing have caps that cannot be removed without tools.
Yes ___ No___

Guardrails Handrails and Safety Barriers

Guardrails or protective barriers are used to prevent inadvertent or unintentional falls off elevated platforms.
Yes ___ No___

For preschool children: elevated surfaces more than 20 inches high have a guardrail or protec- tive barrier; those more than 30 inches high have a protective barrier (an enclosing device that is intended to prevent both inadvertent and deliberate attempts to pass through the barrier).
Yes ___ No___

For school age children: elevated surfaces more than 30 inches high have a guardrail or protective barrier; those more than 48 inches high have a protective barrier.
Yes ___ No___

Handrails are child hand-hold size, and are at waist to shoulder height of the child users (22" - 38").
Yes ___ No___

Boundaries such as painted lines or dividers separate play equipment from walking areas.
Yes ___ No___

Bike or trike riding areas are separate from other areas.
Yes ___ No___

Playgrounds are fenced in.
Yes ___ No___

Unsafe Equipment

There are no heavy swings or swings made out of wood, metal, or other rigid materials.
Yes ___ No___

There are no animal figure swings.
Yes ___ No___

There are no multiple-use occupancy swings (swings used by more than one child at a time) other than tire swings.
Yes ___ No___

There are no swing sets with more than 2 swings per bay.
Yes ___ No___

There are no rope swings; all ropes are anchored at both ends.
Yes ___ No___

There are no trapeze bars.
Yes ___ No___

Any see-saws present have a spring centering device for children 2-5 years of age. If see saws are used, there must be a shock absorbing material required to cushion seat impact on surface and the maximum height of the seat above the protective surfacing must not exceed 5 feet.
Yes ___ No___

There are no trampolines.
Yes ___ No___

Maintenance

Daily checks include: broken glass, animal waste, trash, toxic plants or plant debris, damage by vandals, displaced surfacing, broken equipment, chipping paint, puddles of water, insect hazards, need for lubrication of moving parts.
Yes ___ No___

All hardware fasteners, permanent coverings, or connecting devices are tight and cannot be removed without tools.
Yes ___ No___

All surfaces are intact.
Yes ___ No___

All structures are sturdy enough that they will not move or tip over when the weight of an adult is put against them.
Yes ___ No___

There is no peeling paint.(Lead in peeling paint on play equipment is a common hazard.)
Yes ___ No___

All ropes are tight and strands cannot be pulled apart.
Yes ___ No___

Supervision

All areas where children can play are in view of an adult at all times.
Yes ___ No___

Every child is accounted for at all times by a supervising adult. some method of assuring that no child is hidden or missing from the group must be used.
Yes ___ No___

When children must leave the play area to use the toilet, to get first aid, or for any other reason, supervision of the child who leaves and the children who remain in the play area is secure and consistent.
Yes ___ No___

Children are prevented from playing in a way that challenges them beyond their abilities or that puts others at risk of significant injury.
Yes ___ No___

Slides

The impact-absorbing surfacing material extends at least 6 feet from the end of the slide chute -or a distance that equals the height of the slide platform +4 feet, whichever is greater (It is not necessary for surfacing material to exceed 14 feet).
Yes ___ No___

Slides are no taller than 61/2 feet and have side rims at least 4 inches high.
Yes ___ No___

Slides have an enclosed platform at the top for children to get into position to slide.
Yes ___ No___

Slide ladders have flat steps and a handrail on each side. For users 2-12 years of age, steps are <9 inches apart. Rungs are <12 inches apart. (If steps are <9 inches apart, check for entrapment).
Yes ___ No___

Slide beds have a flat surface at the bottom to slow children down and are sloped at no greater than a 30 degree angle overall.
Yes ___ No___

Slides with metal beds are shaded to prevent overheating.
Yes ___ No___

Sand

Sand digging areas are in the shade.
Yes ___ No___

Sand digging areas are contained by smooth frames.
Yes ___ No___

Sand is covered when not in use to prevent infectious disease and injury risk when animals and insects get into it.
Yes ___ No___

Swings

Swings are located away from other equipment and activities.
Yes ___ No___

Swing footings are stable and buried below the ground or covered by protective surfacing.
Yes ___ No___

There is no corrosion evident on hooks or chains.
Yes ___ No___

There are no "A" frames with horizontal cross bars present.
Yes ___ No___

Tot swings are in a separate bay from the other swings.
Yes ___ No___

Swing hangers are spaced wider than the seats, not less than 20 inches.
Yes ___ No___

There is a minimum space of 24 inches between seats and 30 inches between the swing and supporting structure.
Yes ___ No___

The distance between the bottom of the seat and the protective surface is at least 12 inches.
Yes ___ No___

Multi-Axis Tire Swings

Tire swings do not share a bay with any other type of swing or are mounted on any structure with other play components.
Yes ___ No___

There are no exposed steel belts in steel-belted radial tire swings.
Yes ___ No___

There are drain holes in tire swing tires.
Yes ___ No___

The minimum clearance between tire and support structure is 30 inches.
Yes ___ No___

The tire swing itself weighs less than 35 pounds.
Yes ___ No___

Climbers

Climbers have a safe way off for children who cannot complete the activity.
Yes ___ No___

No places exist where children can fall more than 18 inches onto any component of the climber.
Yes ___ No___

Connections between ropes, cables, or chains are securely fixed.
Yes ___ No___

There are no arch climbers or sliding poles accessible to preschoolers.
Yes ___ No___

Horizontal ladders and overhead rings are used only by children who are over 5 years of age. Chinning bars may be used by 4 year olds.
Yes ___ No___

Merry-go-rounds

The platform is continuous, approximately circular.
Yes ___ No___

There are no components, including handgrips, that extend beyond the perimeter of the platform.
Yes ___ No___

Unless the merry-go-round is tub shaped, there are 1-11/2 inch handgrips available.
Yes ___ No___

There are no accessible shearing or crush points.
Yes ___ No___

Peripheral speed of rotation is limited to 13 feet per second.
Yes ___ No___

Spring Rocking Equipment

The seat accommodates only the intended number of users at one time.
Yes ___ No___

There are hand grips and foot rests for each seating position.
Yes ___ No___

Handgrips are between 1-11/2 inches in diameter; minimum length 3 inches for one hand, and 6 inches for two hands.
Yes ___ No___

Foot rests are a minimum width of 31/2 inches.
Yes ___ No___

Seats are not less than 14 inches nor more than 28 inches above platform surface.
Yes ___ No___

Other Hazards

There is no litter or animal feces in the play area that may attract insects, hide hazards, and harbor infectious disease agents.
Yes ___ No___

There are no attractive climbing hazards (such a trees) that are accessible from an object placed underneath them.
Yes ___ No___

There are no toxic or thorny plants present.
Yes ___ No___

There is a fence that encloses the play area.
Yes ___ No___

Please explain your plan to fix or take out of play any items checked "No."

Loose-fill Playground Surfacing Materials: Depth Needed:

Adapted from "Critical Heights (in feet) of Tested Materials" Table 2, page 21 for characteristics (fall absorbing characteristics, installation/maintenance, advantages and disadvantages) of organic and inorganic loose-fill materials and of unitary synthetic materials, see Appendix C, pp. 29-31. Loose-fill surfacing materials in list above are described in Appendix D, p. 31. Handbook for Public Playground Safety. Pub. No. 325, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC, 1994.

Reprinted with permission from the PA Chapter. American Academy of Pediatrics, 1997. May be photocopied for any use other than resale citing proper credit and without editing.

The PA Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics does not accept any liability associated with the assessment of your play area.

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