Playground Safety

Alma MartinezVictor Lemus

Kasey PetersonVeronica ComptonColey O’Brien Ruiz

Playground InjuriesEach year, Emergency Departmentstreat about 200,000 children 15 yearsold and younger for playgroundrelated injuries.

The American Academy of OrthopedicSurgeons estimates 527,000 childrenare treated in hospitals, Emergencydepartments, doctors offices, andambulatory surgery centers.

Playground Injuries

45 percent of the playground injuriesthat take place are severe: fractures,concussions, and dislocations.

75 percent of the non-fatal injuriestake place on public playgrounds likethose in schools and parks.

70 percent of the deaths that takeplace on playgrounds happen on homeplaygrounds.

Playground InjuriesFalls to the surface cause 70 percentof the injuries on playgrounds

Entanglement of clothing, strings and ropes are the number one cause ofdeaths on playgrounds

Other dangers include: Head entrapment in equipment openings Impact by moving swings Tripping on loose equipment

Playground injuriesare preventable

Follow theSAFEmodel

Supervision&Survey

Ageappropriate and design

Fall Surface Cushioning

Equipment Maintenance

* Adapted from the National Program for Playground Safety

Why are safe playgroundsImportant?

Play is the work of childrenPlay is how children learn aboutobjects and social relations

Play is the vehicle for the infant/childto be able to make sense of the world(Piaget)

Quality of play is affected by theenvironment in which children play

Importance of outdoor play

Slides and climbing equipment assist with the development of motor skills

Elevation assists with developing different perspectives

Imagination is stimulated

Importance of outdoor play

Children learn about cause and effect, physical mastery and manipulation.

Children learn how to get along with other children.

Children avoid obesity through physical activity

Sycamore Park• Uniform Wood Chips-in some areas its

Five feet or less and 6 inches and in others there's 10inches and  9inches  of it.

• The equipment spacing was a little close but just far enough for it to not cause a problem. one with more excessive moving bars to stand on and cross to the bigger structure and parts of it branching off into monkey bars up to the top of the level.

The fall zones in-front of the slides were large enough to be safe for use with out any problems or for see able injury from them.

Tripping hazards for sure but they cut off up to the woodchips, however, consistent use, treading and digging of chips can discover those hazards and become a liability for injury

There was no ability for entrapment they were in the spacing of 3.5 inches and 9 inches

Ample space, however, there is a piece of concrete that poses a danger to children if they run/walk and don't watch their step.

Canoga Park

Though a sunny day, the tree provides shading for these four year old girls to swing. The swings are also at an adequate height in order to prevent injury.

Many age-appropriate activities for the children to develop their gross motor skills

Different protecting surfacing for different areas are used at this playground. I did not witness any dangerous pieces of hardware besides the danger that I believe the wood chips poses to all on any given playground

I didn't see any possible area where a child could become trapped on any of the equipment's. They seemed to be quite safe. I also checked for any sharp edges and points where a child could cut themselves and also didn't witness any areas where that could occur.

Front side looks safe, while the back is definitely missing more protective barriers around the steps, and maybe even and additional rail between the handrails as you are walking up the steps. Children's bodies at 3 and 4 years old, look like they could fit. Possibly could have better protective barriers. The other playhouse, has great protective barriers although children definitely can and do climb over those doors and through the windows.

I believe the height of this slide poses a danger to such small children. Though there are some tall children, the average three year old or four year old, needs to stop before the end of the slide in order to not slide off and hurt themselves.

Lemon Park• Playground had the correct

barriers enclosing children from the height

• surfaces were marginally correct being no more than 2 inches wide and long

• playground contained a bit of rust on the metal railing, but otherwise in good condition

• Contains wood chips

• Playground chute slides and open slides that all had rough and creviced surfaces

• equipment was supported and anchored to the ground

• Playground had the appropriate height of bridges and platforms exceeding no more than 5 and a half ft.

• playground had a swing set of two with the swings hanging roughly 2 feet from the ground which is safe

• playground had an appropriate chute slide with rough surfaces as well as 360 slide

• The spiral slide did a complete 360 and the exits were safe

Playground had a squiggly vertical slide that had a smudge of wear and tear but in good shape. It was roughly 7 ft tall and appropriate

Entrapment – there seems to be no potential obvious issues in structure and all openings are considered safe and up to code.

Protective Barriers – there were no openings other than stairs or slides all of which were safe and not at too high of an incline. Very safe

Banyon Park

Tripping Hazards – no exposed tripping hazards, all surfaces were intact and level

Protective surfacing – both sand and rubber were under play structure and the swings

Fall zones – more than ample space for fall zones all around the play area

Equipment spacing – nothing was in danger of bumping into another play area

Over all very age appropriate!

Only thing I could say that could be improved would be a gate at the entrance by the parking lot (a bit of a walk from play structure) since the rest of the play area is surrounded by a fence.

Love this park simply because its well-built and they have a separate play area for older kids as well but it’s all within one fence but still separated so younger children are safe.

Entrapment – there seems to be no potential obvious issues in structure and all openings are considered safe and up to code.