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Learn the Facts and How to Prevent Playground Injuries

Did you know?

> 200,000+ ER visits occur annually for injuries sustained on playgrounds.

> Nearly 70% of accidents occur on public playgrounds.

> 15 child fatalities occur from playground equipment each year.

> 79% of all playground injuries involve falls.

> Children ages 5 to 9 are the most at-risk group.

Playgrounds, especially public ones, are great spaces for kids to get some fresh air, make new friends, have some fun and burn off the excess energy. As someone that oversees your public playground, it’s important to make sure faulty equipment, improper surfaces or unsafe behavior doesn’t turn a good day in to an emergency room visit.

The following equipment is responsible for the most injuries:

Parental guide for preventing playground injuries:

} Always Supervise Playtime – kids under 5 should be supervised at all times. Make sure you are positioning yourself so that you can maintain a visual line of sight on them!

} Dress children appropriately for playtime – loose clothing and drawstrings are hazardous. Make sure kids wear shoes or sneakers at the playground to protect their feet.

} Choose age-appropriate play equipment – older and younger children should play in separate areas. Toddlers are unable to use metal swings, seesaws or slides safely on their own.

} Ensure playground surfaces are safe – sand, wood chips, pea gravel and synthetic rubber mulch are best. Blacktops and concrete are not recommended. The length of soft surfacing under swings should be double the height of the swing set.

} Only visit well-maintained playgrounds – look out for sharp points or edges in equipment. Inspect the playground (especially a sandbox) for splintered wood, broken glass, sharp metal, uncovered chains, loose bolts, wet spots, or missing ladder rungs. Inspection is key ! All playground equipment should be inspected and maintained regularly.

Looking for more helpful playground information or planning on replacing outdated and unsafe playground equipment? Give us a call! We can safely say we are here to help make sure your kids can safely play!

ParknPool | Lexington, VA | sales@parknpool.com | 877.777.3700

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Working Together to Minimize Park Trash

What do visitors see when they come to your park? A clean and well-maintained park provides a safe haven for people to enjoy some of their favorite outdoor activities. Hopefully, your park visitors see a clean and inviting environment that welcomes them to stay for a while.

Keeping your park free of trash and debris is an important way to give back to your green space. Providing the right amenities so that your park’s patrons can help, is a great place to start!

3 questions when encouraging the disposal of trash:

> Where should you put the trash receptacles?

The best location for your trash receptacles is at any entrance to a new space. They also should be placed at seating areas such as a cluster of park benches or picnic tables. Visitors will most likely eat or snack when seated resulting in more trash. Finally, trash receptacles should be where children may congregate, such as around playground equipment.

> How do you encourage visitors to use the trash receptacles?

Making sure your trash receptacles are handy for visitors is only half the battle. Regular maintenance is also a must! Overflowing or smelly trash areas can discourage them from being used which will result in unnecessary litter and debris. Another option that should be considered is recycling. By adding a recycling receptacle for every trash one, you send your patrons the message that you care about the environment. If you care, they will too!

> What is the right style trash receptacle for your park?

ParknPool offers a variety of trash receptacles ranging in materials, size and usage. The most important being size! For high-traffic areas, make sure you buy large enough containers to keep them from overflowing. Also keep in mind the lifting ability of your maintenance staff. A full 55 gallon trash bag can be quite heavy!

Something else to consider, that is mostly overlooked, is the lid!


~ Have a critter problem? You need a dome lid to keep them out!
~ Will they be uncovered? Perhaps a rain bonnet lid is best!
~ Will they be under shelter? Then, your options are wide open!

In our professional experience, trash and recycling receptacles don’t get the respect they deserve. They are arguably the hardest working site amenity in your park. We will work just as hard to find you the perfect option! Give us a call today!

ParknPool | Lexington, VA | sales@parknpool.com | 877.77.3700