National Playground Safety Week (April 21-25, 2014)
The 4th week of April is National Playground Safety Week. In honer of this event, injury attorney Jeff Rasansky would like to share a few tips on the subject.
DALLAS, TX, UNITED STATES, April 18, 2014 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Playground safety is an important, yet often overlooked concern. The implementation of programs to assist with the protection of our children is the key to future success. One of these programs is National Playground Safety Week, an awareness event that takes place the 4th week of April and focuses on all aspects of playground safety.WHAT CAN THE PUBLIC DO?
One thing to keep in mind is this simple fact: playgrounds can become safer with the public's help. Children need the help of people who are interested enough to take action in order to make it happen. Some of the things individuals can do to improve the safety of their playgrounds include the following:
• Contact state officials encouraging them to support National Playground Safety Week.
• Visit schools and community areas to hang posters identifying S.A.F.E. playground practices.
• Perform evaluations and safety checks on equipment on the playground.
• Encourage schools to sponsor an injury-free week on the playground.
• Keep an eye on the local playgrounds for issues of premises liability. If there are signs of hard surfacing underneath the equipment, notify the owner.
• Contact the editor of the local newspaper to comment on the safety conditions of the playgrounds in the community. Do not limit comments to those with unsafe conditions but also give credit to the facilities that pride themselves in making sure they provide safe playgrounds for the children.
• Create and distribute surveys to other parents in an effort to find out the favorite and least favorite equipment in addition to any frequently occurring problems and/or injuries at the playground.
CONTACT STATE OFFICIALS
Those who wish to ensure safety on the children's playgrounds can help by working actively to persuade the governor in their state to declare National Playground Safety Week. While the National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS) will assume responsibility for contacting the governors of all 50 states in order to encourage them to sign a proclamation, they also need the help of the public. Some states require a resident of that state to initiate the request for the proclamation process.
PLAYGROUND SAFETY FACTS & TIPS
The most common playground injuries are falls; they account for more than 75% of all injuries that occur on the playground. Improper or absent supervision accounts for nearly half of all injuries that occur on the playground. Some of the most important things adults can do to help ensure playground safety include the following:
• Always actively supervise children as they play on the playground.
• Make it a point to take the children to playgrounds that have surfaces which are less likely to cause serious injuries such as rubber, sand, pea gravel, synthetic turf, mulch, or wood chips.
• Make sure children dress appropriately for the playground. This includes removing items that may become caught on equipment and create the potential for strangulation such as necklaces, purses, clothing with drawstrings, or scarves. Even helmets can be hazardous on the playground.
• Teach children the dangers they can create if they shove, crowd, or push others while on the playground.
The most important thing for parents and adult supervisors to remember is the importance of active supervision regardless of the child's age. Even older children can get hurt if they do not exercise caution in their activities. It is important to make sure children always follow safe playground practices.
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Jeff Rasansky
Rasansky Law Firm
214-651-6100
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