School Playground Safety Reminders
April 13, 2015
If there is one thing that students look forward to most about the last few months of the school year other than summer being on its way, it’s likely the fact that outdoor recess can resume. After months of having to stay indoors for the entirety of the school day, any chance they can get to head outside for a break is a good one. But outdoor recess isn’t always fun and games – unless you take the proper safety precautions, that is.
According to the Children’s Safety Network, 218,851 playground related injuries are treated by emergency professionals each year. 218,851! To keep your students from contributing to that number, we encourage you to implement the following safety procedures at your school:
- Have multiple supervisors on the playground whenever students are present.
- Inspect playgrounds regularly before play to ensure that there are no rusted, broken, or dangerous parts visible that can cause an injury.
- Utilize the proper materials for the playground’s surface – shredded rubber, sand, and mulch are just a few that are recommended.
- Differentiate play spaces by age and/or give students in each age group their own time on the playground.
- Set recess rules and make sure that students are aware of safety basics such as no pushing and shoving. Students should also be informed about what type of attire is appropriate for playgrounds – for example, flip flops and loose clothing can be a safety hazard.
By using the above, you can work to make your school a safer space for all. And the best part? By feeling safe, students will likely have a better experience during their time outdoors too!
Our thoughts: At Nickerson Corporation, we believe that every student deserves an entertaining playground to have fun on during recess. We also know that playgrounds need to be safe and durable enough to withstand any type of activity (weather included), which is why we work with some of the top manufacturers of playgrounds and freestanding play equipment.
To learn more about how we can help you with the status of your current playground, please click here or give us a call at (631) 666-0200.