Playground Safety Tips Help Prevent Injuries to Children

Each year more that 200,000 children are injured on playgrounds throughout the United States and end up in emergency rooms with injuries related to playground equipment, according to health officials at the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH).

The OSDH, State Risk Watch Coalition, SAFEKIDS Coalition, and the Oklahoma Recreation and Park Society support the National Program for Playground Safety in its efforts to reduce the number of playground injuries and keep our children SAFE through proper Supervision, Age appropriate equipment, materials to soften Falls, and Equipment maintenance.

It is appropriate to follow guidelines for playgrounds in all areas including homes, schools, childcare facilities, churches, and public parks. Many injuries happen when a child falls from equipment to the ground. Often, backyard play sets are placed on dirt or grass surfaces that do not adequately protect children when they fall. Here are some tips to improve the safety of your backyard play sets:

  • Install and maintain a shock-absorbing surface around play equipment. Use at least 9 inches of word chips, mulch or shredded rubber for play equipment up to 7 feet high. If sand or pea gravel is used, install at least a 9-inch layer for play equipment up to 5 feet high. Or, use surfacing mats made of safety-tested rubber or rubber-like materials.
  • Install protective surfacing at least 6 feet in all directions from play equipment. For swings, be sure surfacing extends in back and front twice the height of the suspending bar.
  • Never attach or allow children to attach ropes, jump ropes, clotheslines, or pet leashes to play equipment; children can strangle on these.
  • Check for hazardous hardware, like open "S" hooks or protruding bolt ends which can be hazardous.
  • Check for spaces that could trap children. Openings in guardrails or between these spaces should measure less than 3.5 inches or more than 9 inches.
  • Make sure platforms and ramps have guardrails to prevent falls.
  • Check for sharp points or edges on equipment.
  • Remove tripping hazards like exposed concrete footings, tree stumps and rocks.
  • Regularly check play equipment and surfacing to make sure both are in good condition.
  • Carefully supervise children on play equipment to make sure they are safe.


The following are some additional questions parents should ask about public playgrounds:

  • Supervision -- Are adults at the playground? Can adults see children in crawl spaces? Are the rules posted?
  • Age appropriate -- Are the play areas separated such as preschoolers from school age children? Is equipment at the correct height?
  • Fall Surfacing -- Does the surface have appropriate materials and are they deep enough? Is the playground environment clean?
  • Equipment Maintenance -- Is the equipment in good condition? Is the equipment surface smooth?

"The safety and well-being of children is a priority of this state. Parents and caregivers can take an active role to improve the health of children in their care by helping make the play environment a safe one," said State Health Commissioner Dr. Michael Crutcher.
For more information about Playground Safety Week, April 26-30, contact the OSDH, Child and Adolescent Health Division, Maternal and Child Health Service at 405/271-4471.