8 Summer Playground Safety Tips

Summer is a time for barbecues, vacations, and summer camps. It's also the time when the weather heats up in most of the USA, and the sun blazes hot. For playground, this presents a different set of safety issues than you find in cold weather. These 8 simple tips offer some helpful information on keeping your playground safe in summer. They're based on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) Public Playground Safety Handbook and our experience with ASTM F1487, the manufacturing standard that governs commercial playground equipment.

1. Test the temperature of the playground equipment and surfacing, before use. Most commercial play equipment is made from metal and plastic, two materials that conduct heat -- and retain it. "When exposed to direct sunlight they may reach temperatures high enough to cause serious contact burn injuries in a matter of seconds," according to the CPSC Handbook Section 2.5.3. Swing seats, too, can heat up, as can swingset chains. Even playground surfacing gets hot, especially rubber mulch, rubber tiles, and Poured-in-Place unified surfacing. So, before your kids get on the equipment, test the temperature with your hands. Don't let kids play barefoot on the playground. If you're a playground operator but can't always supervise the area, consider adding a sign to the play area, warning users. If need be, add shade to the play area to keep the temperatures down (see #2, below).

2. 

   Add shade to your playground. Excessive sunlight not only heats up playground equipment to dangerous temperatures, it can create long-term health problems for kids. To minimize sun exposure, the CPSC Handbook Section 2.1.1 recommends man-made structures and natural shade (i.e., trees) as ways to bring shade to your play area. These can shield both kids and equipment. "Bare metal slides, platforms, and steps should be shaded or located out of direct sun," according to the CPSC Handbook.

3. Make sure that kids are hydrated. Hot weather makes people sweat. Kids don't always know to keep drinking water like adults do. Whether it's water fountain or bottled water, make sure that children have access to cold H2O -- preferably before, during, and after they hit the playground.

4. Use sunscreen and/or sunblock. No matter how much shade is available on a playground, it's impossible to block out the sun completely. So, use sunscreen or sunblock to screen out harmful UV rays from above.

5. Check clamps and slides on play equipment for splitting and cracking. The power of the sun is stronger than you would believe. When it's focused on the joints of playground equipment for weeks on end, it can crack metal and plastic. You should inspect these items regularly for strength and surface texture.
   
   
6. Look out for insects. In hot weather, bees and wasps can nest under and inside playground equipment. And sometimes, they're not in a very good mood. If you see insects on the playground, watch their flight path, to see where they go. If they're building a nest on the play area, contact the playground operator immediately and, if necessary, remove the children from the play area.
   
   
7. Follow the weather forecasts. Summer storms can roll in on a few minutes notice. Keep track of weather forecasts to avoid sudden rain downpours and lightning. After a rain shower, check the playground to make sure that the surfacing levels have not been depleted. Also check playground structures to make sure that surfaces haven't become slippery.
   
   
8. Contact a Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI). Certified inspectors are trained in the official safety standards for playground equipment and surfacing. They're the playground safety experts. We have 5 on our staff, and many more across the USA. For information about safety inspections in your area, phone us today at (877) 778-8830. We can refer you to a CPSI anywhere in the USA.

Note: This safety advice is not exhaustive. For information on other safety steps you should take, consult a CPSI and check out the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) Public Playground Safety Handbook (.PDF format).