ParknPool Blog

We all know that park benches are a common thing to see at parks, lakes, amusement parks, playgrounds and airports but have you really ever thought about some of the things you can see while sitting on a park bench?

From a recycled plastic bench in a park you could land your eyes on an old man taking a stroll with his best friend.

The Story: After reading the morning paper, Old Man Thomas always takes “Roscoe” for a walk. They’ve been doing this since Mr. Thomas retired almost 10 years ago. The fall is their favorite time of the year to walk, the old man finds the leaves beautiful and it’s a little bit easier for “Roscoe” to stand the weather. You see, “Roscoe” has developed arthritis in his hind quarters do to his old age. Cold weather causes it to flare up and the heat is just too much for an old dog to handle. Mr. Thomas’ favorite poet is Edgar Allen Poe and on their morning strolls he may quote a little from one of his favorite poems while “Roscoe” listens in closely: “In visions of the dark night I have dreamed of joy departed but a waking dream of life and light hath left me broken-hearted.”

From a wood slatted bench near the lake you could spot two men fishing from an old john boat.

The Story: Jerry and his daughter’s boyfriend, Kirk, have decided to spend a weekend together fishing on the lake. They’ve done it before and each trip is a memorable one but this particular weekend is going to be especially memorable. Kirk is about to pop the question to his girlfriend of 5 years and the purpose of this trip is to ask her father for his blessing.

From a concrete bench at an amusement park you could relive your childhood through the eyes of a little girl meeting a princess for the first time.

The Story: Since Kirsten was a year old she has watched “Snow White” 115 times, she just turned 3. She knows every word and can recite all 7 dwarfs with ease. She has wanted nothing more than to meet the princess that is plastered all over her bedroom walls. Her parents, who both work full-time jobs, had to save up the money to take little Kirsten to Disney World and they finally got the chance to make the trip. When Kirsten spotted Snow White with one of her dwarfs, she broke loose from her mother’s tight grip to be sure not to miss her chance. After this meeting, Kirsten was chosen to be princess for the day. She rode in the parade and waved at the other park visitors. This was the day she realized that no dream is too big.

From a plastic coated bench at your local playground you will more than likely see a young child sliding into the arms of their mother or father.

The Story: Sue has taken her daughter to this same playground for 4 years but could never get Carrie to slide down the slide. Carrie has always been afraid of what awaits at the bottom, even if her mother’s arms were always waiting to catch her. This is the first time little Carrie has gotten up the nerve to climb up the ladder and take the plunge to the bottom. She never knew it could be so fun! Now Sue can’t keep her off the slide, everyday when she is picked up from Kindergarten she HAS to stop by the playground to take a few turns sliding down the slide into her mother’s waiting arms.

From a strap steel bench outside of an airport, through tears, you could get the privilege of enjoying a moment when a soldier comes home.

The Story: Who knows…all we care about is that it has a happy ending!

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

Winter weather provides a frosty world of endless possibilities for kids. They can construct forts, sled over ice ramps, skate on a frozen patch of water in the backyard and pretend they are Eskimos foraging for their food. The melted snow freezes on their pants while their faces, legs and hands turn an uncomfortable shade of pink. Nonetheless, they still want to play outside despite the weather conditions. So what can we do to protect them when playing in bad weather?

Snow, believe it or not, can cause problems on the playground. Although we think of snow as being soft and fluffy, it can pack down to resemble concrete. Snow cover quickly becomes a hard packed surface and at times can be icy.

• Snowfall may lessen the distance between the bottom of the swing and the ground so that legs swinging back may become caught on the ground instead of swinging clear.
• Checking the playground surfacing in the winter is just as important as checking it other times of the year. Ice and snow can make the surface very hard.

It isn’t only the snow on the ground that causes concern. Wooden pathways and steps to slides may be slippery. Since it may be impossible to remove all the snow, adult supervision on playgrounds during the winter may need to be increased to help children avoid snow-related accidents.

The material a playground is constructed of can also present problems. Many pieces of equipment are made of metal. Cold is transmitted more easily through metal and increases the risk of a cold injury, such as frostbite. Children should be made aware to not lick or touch the metal objects with their bare hands in cold weather. It is important to dress appropriately for the cold and to limit their time outside when temperatures drop.

Fun Fact: Eating plenty of food before going out can help to sustain body warmth.

It is important to check the playground for any damage it might have sustained during the change of seasons as well as after any occurrence of inclement weather. Following a simple checklist can help you detect problems so injuries can be avoided:

1. Check for obvious signs of damage or decay, such as loose or broken nuts and bolts or rotting wood in equipment, gates and fences. Check painted surfaces for chipping paint that would need a coat of primer. Check for holes in fences.
2. Check the swings for proper height and stability; make sure the ropes are properly attached and not frayed. Check the slides to make sure the protective surfaces around them have enough sand or mulch. Be sure to clean off bird droppings.
3. Check for natural hazards: Fallen tree limbs and branches are obvious, but also make sure there aren’t any damaged limbs that could fall into the playground. Water erosion can expose rocks and other objects that may be hazardous for children, and burrowing animals can leave behind dangerous holes.
4. Check for human pollution: bottles, cans, and pieces of glass.
5. Check the sandbox: Make sure it’s clean and free of debris, such as twigs and glass, also make sure it hasn’t been used by cats as a litter box.

We can’t control the weather, but we can take safety precautions to ensure children are safe when playing in the winter months.

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

While we can’t prevent hurricanes, we can prepare for them. That means doing everything you can to keep you, your family and your belongings safe, far ahead of any natural disaster. No matter the size of the storm, you can take steps to reduce the likelihood of your stuff becoming storm debris. It is difficult to prevent buildings from becoming debris, especially during a large storm, but smaller items can be safely stored or secured. After all, no one wants their patio furniture to knock out a neighbor’s window before it ends up swimming with the fish.

As part of your outdoor living area, patio and pool furniture are most susceptible to gusting winds and drenching rains. Large outdoor items such as patio furniture, umbrellas, and trash cans need to be properly stored or secured. All too often, we’ve seen lightweight outdoor furniture become flying projectiles during a hurricane through windows or screen enclosures.

Beyond the common preparation tips here are easy methods to secure your outdoor furniture and accessories, and protect others from flying debris:

• Outdoor Furniture and heavy items that cannot be brought inside should be secured. Items such as picnic tables and benches, may be turned on their sides or upside down to help prevent it from being caught by the wind. Bungee cords are excellent for holding down heavy items, such as grills and playground sets, and for tying objects together. These objects should be placed close to walls or ideally in an inner corner, to lessen the effects of the wind.
• Patio Umbrellas and Shade Structures should be closed and removed from the stands and/or patio tables. You don’t want them to become projectiles in high wind conditions.
• Trash Receptacles can also be secured with bungee cords or chains attached to ground anchors or to wood posts firmly embedded in the ground.
• Pool Furniture should not be thrown into the pool unless it is a last resort. More common for large hotels, with dozens of chairs and tables, placing the furniture into the pool keeps it from being tossed about in a hurricane. It can cause damage to the furniture or to the pool, so it’s best to be avoided when possible.

Always remember that items can not only get damaged, they can be very destructive to people and property if caught in high winds!

Advanced preparation can protect your property as well as your neighbors, preserve your belongings and lessen the damage caused by storms. Follow the guidelines from your local municipality regarding hurricane preparation and above all be safe.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to your family, friends, home and business during this uncertain time as Hurricane Nicole marches on. May God help you and please know that you have our support.

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

Basic Safety Guidelines

Over 20,000 people are hurt annually in accidents involving bleachers! Many of these injuries involve children. A large percentage are a result of a person falling from, or through, bleachers to the ground.

Falls from bleachers typically occur when guardrails are missing from the back or sides of bleachers but can also ensue when there are openings between seating and footboards that are big enough to allow a person through. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has developed guidelines to prevent these falls.

Many bleachers in facilities today pose a fall hazard, especially to children, due to the fact that these bleachers may have been build and installed when building codes did not require guardrails and allowed openings that were big enough for a child to fit through. To prevent falls, it is recommended that guardrails and openings meet the following recommendations:

• A bleacher should have a guardrail along the back, and surrounding the open ends, where the drop is more than 30″ to the ground below.
• The guardrail should be at least 42″ high and, if using a vertical picket guardrail, all openings should be small enough that a 4″ sphere cannot fit through.
• If chain link fencing is used, it is recommended using chain link that has a 1.25″ (or less) mesh to discourage kids from climbing.
• Where visibility would not be significantly impaired, use solid materials to block openings.

Types of Bleachers

Bleachers are used by spectators to comfortably view sporting events, graduations, races, parades and many other activities. They are structures that provide tiered seating and come in a variety of configurations and sizes.

ParknPool offers numerous bleacher options that fall into three categories (pictured respectively): permanent/stationary, portable/towable, and temporary (generally known as Tip N’ Roll). Permanent bleachers are attached to the ground with anchors while portable bleachers are able to be used at multiple locations. Temporary bleachers are usually smaller units that are only used for specific events and can be stored while not in use. The guidelines in this guide, and the ones by the CPSC, apply to these three categories of bleachers.

Retrofitting Existing Bleachers

If retrofitting rather than replacing your existing set of bleachers is more feasible for your budget, the current condition and structure of your bleachers will determine the materials and methods needed to retrofit. It is imperative to ensure that the methods and materials used do not introduce the possibility of new hazards such as bleacher tip-over, bleacher collapse, guardrail collapse, and contact or tripping hazards.

Where practical, features such as aisles, handrails and non-slip surfacing should be incorporated into any retrofit project. Consult with a licensed professional or qualified bleacher firm to learn more about what is important in aiding people to move safely about on bleachers.

Rigid material, such as aluminum, should be used to close any openings between the seating and footboards. Chain link or fencing material can introduce potential trip hazards, allow debris to collect under the seats that is not easy to remove, and encourage children to play or hang on it.

ParknPool and the CPSC recommend that you consult with your local building officials to determine whether a permit is required to make any retrofit changes to your existing bleachers. It is also advisable to check local requirements for such things as aisles and guardrails, ADA, or other conditions. Building codes vary by state, year written and by the group that issues them – International Building Code (IBC), Uniform Building Code (UBC), Standard Building Code (SBC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), etc. – so be sure to check with your local building codes.

Guardrails, Handrails & Aisles

Having the appropriate components to aid in the access and egress on, of and around bleacher units is imperative for user safety. Guardrails missing from the backs of bleachers, or open sides can cause injury from falls. Gaps in the guardrail, between the footboard and seat, or at the bottom of the guardrail that are large enough for a person to pass through can also cause injury.

Guardrails should not encourage children to climb on or over them. The easiest way to do this is by choosing bleachers with vertical picket guardrails or make sure the chainlink is less than 1.25″ wide. All the bleachers ParknPool offers are available with vertical picket guardrails. In most cases the fourth row of a set of non-elevated bleachers is taller than 30″ which means that there is a riser plank (pictured below) to stop small children from falling through. This closes the gap between the seat and foot boards.

Aisles, handrails and non-skid surfacing are key factors in allowing people to safely move around on bleachers. Many older bleachers do not have these features but can be retrofitted to make existing bleachers safe.

Maintenance & Inspections

Whether you choose to retrofit your current bleachers or order replacement ones, they should be carefully inspected at least once a quarter to identify any damage to the structure or disrepair that could result in injury or death. Problems identified should be corrected immediately. Any inspections or maintenance should be completed by a trained individual, and any action taken should be documented. In addition to the quarterly inspections, the CSPC recommends that a licensed professional engineer or person qualified to provide bleacher products and services should inspect the bleachers at least once every two years. At that time, a written certification will be issued that the bleachers are fit for use.

It is crucial to follow the CPSC’s guidelines to ensure the highest safety. It is imperative that you deal with an individual who is knowledgeable and equipped to answer any questions, as well as provide bleacher seating that meets all of the CPSC’s guidelines.

No one’s safety is worth taking a risk by leaving outdated bleachers in place!

Call ParknPool at 877.777.3700 today and speak to one of our knowledgeable account managers who are waiting to answer all of your questions!