.: Safe Playground Equipment Guidelines
By:James Hunt
Category:Home / Fitness / Equipment
Playgrounds and outdoor playground equipment can offer your child enjoyment, fresh air, and exercise, but they can also pose some safety hazards. Faulty equipment, improper surfaces, and careless behavior are just a few of the dangers that cause children on playgrounds to visit hospital emergency departments. To ensure that your children have the safest playground environment possible, follow these guidelines.
• In the United States, a child is injured on a playground every 2 1/2 minutes.
• More than 200,000 children each year are treated in emergency departments for playground-related injuries.
• More than 75% of playground injuries occur on a public playground.
• Most playground injuries involve falls, and over half of the time the child's head and face is hurt.
• Most of these injuries are preventable with proper supervision and safer playground equipment and design.
You can make the playground a place that's entertaining and safe for your children by checking equipment for potential hazards and following some simple safety guidelines. In addition, teaching your kids how to play safely is important: if they know the rules of the playground, it's less likely they'll become injured.
Safety Guidelines
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funds the National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS), which works to prevent playground-related injuries by establishing detailed guidelines for safe playgrounds. According to the NPPS, the most important factors in evaluating the safety of any playground are surface, design and spacing, equipment installation, and maintenance.
The following types of equipment are not meant for safe playgrounds:
• animal figure swings
• glider swings that hold more than one child at a time
• swinging ropes that can fray, unravel, or form a noose (any kind of rope attached to play equipment poses a strangulation hazard, so never let your child tie jump ropes or leashes onto the equipment)
• exercise rings (as used in gymnastics) and trapeze bars
• Monkey bars: although people use the terms monkey bars, jungle gyms, and climbing equipment interchangeably, actual monkey bars are a specific type of climbing equipment with interior bars onto which a child may fall from a height greater than 18 inches. In the early 1980s, the CPSC stated that monkey bars were unsuitable for playgrounds.
• trampolines: these are never appropriate for safe playgrounds
Article keywords: outdoor, safe, playground, equipment, sport
Article Source: http://www.articles32.com
James Hunt has spent 15 years as a professional writer and researcher covering stories that cover a whole spectrum of interest.
Read more at www.best-playground-equipment.info
.: New Equipment Articles
1). Do You Want To Work Out At Home
If your current schedule does not allow you the time to take advantage of a gym or fitness center membership, you might want to consider the advantages of creating your own home gym. Working out at home can save you valuable time, and even money in the long term.
2). How Do I Lose Weight Using Stairmaster?
Stairmasters or stair climbers are wonderful pieces of exercise equipment. But how do they compare against the popular treadmills and elliptical machines? Read on to find out ...
3). How Do You Rate Home Gyms?
There are several different aspects you should look at when it comes to rating home gyms. Different people tend to rate home gyms differently. It really depends on what your personal goals and what you are looking to get from your workout.
4). What Are The Most Popular Home Gyms?
Once you have decided to purchase a home gym, you may begin taking a closer look at some well-known home gyms that are out there on the market. Taking a closer look at well-known home gyms is a great idea before you settle on the one that will work for you and your needs. Find out more ...
5). Bicycling For Fun and Fitness
Bicycling has been a major pastime and it still hasnt reached its peak. More and more people are still jumping on the bandwagon of going biking for different reasons.
6). Tips On Buying Exercise Equipment
Tips on buying exercise equipment, from what equipment to purchase to how to decide what equipment is best suited for your needs.
7). What Is The Best Home Gym?
When it comes to choosing home gyms, you may find yourself with many different decisions to make and not sure where to start. Choosing home gyms involve many different aspects to check out, this is true, but it is actually quite simple to pick one for you and your needs. Learn how ...
.: Top Equipment Articles
1). Best Elliptical Machine: 5 Must-Have Features When Shopping
So you're buying an elliptical machine? Elliptical machines give you a low impact, safe workout that burns a maximum amount of calories in the least amount of time.
But with all of the different elliptical brands out there, how do you choose the best one? Here are 5 key features to look for when shopping to help you find the very best elliptical machine.
2). Sole F80 Treadmill Review – Value and Performance!
This weekend I bought a car. I did considerable research on the Internet, comparing price, features, customer testimonials and third party reviews. My primarily focus was to purchase a fuel efficient model. I’m trying to do my part to save the planet.
I looked at several budget models. Their price was very appealing for under $14,000. After serious consideration I ended up with a Honda Accord.
3). Elliptical Trainer Review – Sole Fitness
One of the most crucial features to consider when purchasing an elliptical trainer is the warranty. The extent of the warranty speaks volumes as to the quality and the durability of the machine.
There is a relative new player in the elliptical trainer industry, Sole Fitness. They are defining their niche by offering one of the most extensive warranties available at any price range.
4). Elliptical Workout - 3 Advantages Of Working Out With An Elliptical
If you're trying to decide between an elliptical trainer and another piece of exercise equipment, consider the workout advantages an elliptical provides. What's so special about an elliptical workout? Here are 3 unique advantages of using your elliptical trainer to workout:
#1) Forward & Back Motions Provide Better Workout Results
Almost all elliptical trainers offer both forward and back motion (also called dual action motion).
5). How to replace your treadmill belt
Is your treadmill belt worn, torn or curling up on the edges? Does your treadmill slow down after you step on the belt and begin your workout?
If this is the case then it may be time to replace the belt.
Here are some thing to check before replacing your belt.
*1. You need to make sure the deck of the treadmill is in good shape. If it looks good then it may only need to be waxed or lubricated.
6). Treadmill Maintenance -- 11 Tips for the care of your treadmill
So, you've spent the weeks you needed to research, try out, choose and purchase your brand new treadmill. You've gotten it assembled and begun your daily workouts...so what now? Well, even the highest end commercial treadmills need a bit of love and affection to keep them purring like a kitten. This guide will tell you everything you need to know to keep your treadmill in tip top shape.
7). Review of the New 2006 Smooth Elliptical Trainers
Although Smooth Fitness has been selling elliptical trainers for a number of years, it is only recently that they manufactured their own models. In the past they private labeled machines from companies like Kettler. In fact, their popular Smooth CE is a Kettler built elliptical, which they have sold literally thousand.
They recently introduced three new models, the CE 2.