The Dangers of Backyard Playgrounds

by Angelique Gervais
Home Remodeling Guide Columnist

Safe backyard playgrounds don't begin and end with the assembly of a packaged swing set. Children come up with ever more creative ways of exposing themselves to danger, and it's up to you to think ahead when planning a backyard playground. A safe playground requires conscientious construction, regular maintenance, and adult supervision. It's hard to make our children consider their safety, but careful planning will help your peace of mind.

Four Steps to Backyard Playground Safety

1. Careful Planning

   Most backyard playground injuries are a result of falling from equipment. It is important therefore to make a good choice of surface material.
   
   
   • Shredded tires: A six inch deep pit of shredded tires provides protection against serious injury from falls as high as ten to twelve feet. This is the most shock absorbing material
   • Wood chips: A twelve inch deep pit of wood chips beneath your backyard playground structure protects against serious injury from falls of eleven feet.
   • Sand: A twelve inch deep pit of fine sand gives sufficient protection from a nine foot fall. This is probably the most common surface used for protection against falls.
   The fall zone is the area around the structure where kids are likely to fall. It extends a minimum of six feet beyond the structure and should be covered with the shock-absorbing material. Backyard swing set fall zones are twice the height of the swing support. Position the playground set away from obstacles like fences or lawn furniture.



2. Attentive Construction

   When assembling your backyard swing set or playground equipment, you should follow instructions meticulously. Safety features and margins will have been allowed for in the design and you should not attempt to modify the equipment from the original in any way. The size and construction of the supports have been calculated carefully and should not be tampered with.



3. Regular Maintenance

   Be sure to be on the alert for wear and tear of the playground every time you are out in the backyard. Remove toys and debris from the fall zone. Check supports for stability and make timely repairs as needed. Rake shredded tires or wood chips and rotary till sand to loosen; compacted material can be as dangerous as asphalt.



4. Supervision

   There really is no alternative to adult supervision of your background playground. Most injuries can be prevented if parents or care-givers are there to provide immediate help and limit childhood enthusiasm. Fatalities can be nearly

Playgrounds should be fun places for kids to play, learn and exercise. If you want to maintain your sanity you would be well advised to follow the four steps to backyard safety. Doing this should also help ensure your kids don't become one of the 51,000 seriously injured on backyard playgrounds every year.

About the Author

Angelique Gervais owns and operates a graphic design business serving rural areas in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada. She recently completed editing and compiling an anthology for her local Writers' Group, of which she is an active member. Angelique holds a degree in Biblical Studies, and she is currently expanding her education in the areas of psychology and human development at the Masters level.