By Michelle Swartz

Swinging, climbing, sliding and crawling are all a part of playground fun.

Even though it’s meant to be entertaining, it’s important to remember to be safe when playing on the equipment.

Wearing the right clothes and being aware of other kids are some of the things you must do to have a good time. For example, a hooded shirt or sweatshirt could spell danger. The hood or the strings on it could get caught on the equipment and you could get hurt so don’t wear clothes with hoods or strings on them.

You also want to be cautious of others playing. Don’t walk near kids who are swinging because they might accidentally collide with you.

It’s also important to play on equipment that’s right for your age. Never play on equipment that’s too old or too young for you because you could get stuck in smaller spaces or get scared if you climb too high.

Whether you are playing at school, home or at a park, you must be careful.

Several new playgrounds have been installed at many elementary schools in the Monroe Public Schools district in the past few years. Raisinville, Custer, South Monroe Townsite and Riverside elementary schools are some places where you will find brand new playground sets.

Vince Castiglione, the school’s maintenance supervisor, said the district must follow National Playground Safety Institute requirements when installing the equipment. One of the rules is to soften the surface with wood chips.

“If you fall, it would still hurt but it won’t be as bad as hitting the pavement,” he said. “Less head injuries have been reported because of wood chips.”

Having fun is important but playing safe should be your main priority.

Checklist For Parents

Adults should check the following so every piece of equipment is safe for children to use:

-- Slides should be well-anchored, have firm handrails and good traction on the steps.

-- S-hooks should be closed entirely. The hooks could entangle children’s clothing and cause strangulation.

-- Guardrails should surround all elevated platforms.

-- Playground surfaces should be filled with at least 12 inches of loose fill, such as wood chips or sand.

-- Look for rust and chipped paint on metal components.

-- Check for deterioration on structural components which connect to the ground.

-- Is there missing or damaged equipment, such as swing sets and guardrails?

-- Make sure your child plays on age-appropriate equipment.

-- Supervise children at all times.

-- Prevent burns by checking for hot surfaces on playground equipment before allowing children to play on it.

-- Supervise and teach your child safe play, such as staying away from a moving swing.

Sources: National Safety Council and National Program for Playground Safety

Maintenance Problems?

For more information on playground safety, request a copy of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) handbook for public playground safety.

To obtain a copy, send a postcard with your name, address, and name of the publication to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC’s hotline at (800) 638-2772.

A Soft Landing

Falls on asphalt and concrete surfaces can result in serious head injury and death.

Playground surfaces have become much safer in recent years to help prevent serious injuries. In case you fall, new playground equipment surfaces are cushioned with sand, rubber mats or tiles or fiber/mulch, wood chips — all materials that help you make a softer landing.

Never play on a playground that uses concrete, asphalt, grass, blacktop, packed dirt or rocks as a surface.

Play Safe, Have Fun

Here are some rules to follow when playing on playground equipment:

-- Only play on the playground when a grown-up is with you.

-- Don’t use the equipment if the area is littered with trash, especially if there is broken glass.

-- Only play on age-appropriate equipment. You could get stuck if you play on equipment that is too small. Younger kids may climb too high on equipment for older kids.

-- Don’t go too high. Don’t climb so high that you get scared. Only climb on equipment that you feel comfortable on.

-- When swinging, watch out for others who might be getting too close. If you’re walking around on the playground, watch out for those using the swing.

-- Tell a grown-up if a piece of equipment is broken.

Be Safe!

Each year, about 200,000 children are treated in hospital emergency rooms for playground injuries.

Of all those injuries, about 148,000 involve public playground equipment and about 51,000 involve home playground equipment.

On average, 15 children die each year because of playground injuries.

Nearly 70 percent of all playground injuries are due to falling off the equipment.