April 15, 2016
Things are finally warming up in the tri-state area, which means it’s about time to start taking recess outdoors. While there’s nothing more glorious for a child than running wild on a playground for half an hour, there’s also nothing more traumatic and suffering an injury amidst their fun. Luckily, there are a few ways you can prevent your students from getting hurt while they play.
- Keep it clean. Make sure that your playground equipment is washed down often and free of debris. This will make it safer for play, and will also minimize the chances of students getting hurt or sick.
- Maintain your material. Playground equipment comes in a variety of shapes, sizes and styles. If your playground is made of wood, check for splintering regularly and fix any damage you find. Metal equipment should be clear of rust, and plastic should be checked for cracks or deterioration.
- Inspect your swings. All items that hang on a playground, such as swings, are typically attached by s-hooks. Give all of your hooks a once every month and make sure none are opening or broken. In addition, there should never be more than two swings attached to a single structure.
- Repair any holes. Openings that are 3.5”-9” in diameter are places that children can potentially get stuck or hurt. Cracks and holes can also present opportunities for strings, shoelace and hair to get caught causing trips, falls, and in some cases strangulation.
Here 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.