The location of the playground, the materials from which it is made, hygiene and maintenance are key issues that adults should monitor
Go to the park to play is one of the best plans that can be offered to a child. For the kids and parents love them the opportunity to have fun with their children, or take a break while they have fun. However, the maintenance of its attractions is still insufficient: only two years ago, we found thata third of the games had some deficiency. While improving their designs parks every day, incorporating new materials and are subject to strict safety standards, are also subject to misuse, climate or environment, over time, can deteriorate.Therefore, and because they are in public, it is essential that adults pay attention to certain aspects to prevent mishaps and accidents involving children. In this report we provide some guidelines.
Most accidents are falls
Nine out of ten children's accidents are hits. Among younger children, under 4 years, the most common injury is the fall and the most affected part of the body, the head.
The majority of accidents take place in the home (with injuries,poisoning and burns, in this order of incidence), but the areas of recreation -parks- are also an accident scenario. Accidents can be avoided.For children to play safely, adults should "demand security, both as gaming devices in the installation," the paper said. And above all, they must be vigilant.
1.The location of the park
Not enough that the park is close to home or school. What's important, beyond practicality, is to be located in a suitable and safe.
This is far from the street and fenced in some way (with walls, fences or hedges) to prevent, in a careless, children can run into the street. It is fitting that it is in an area with good visibility, ie a place where parents see their children play and at the same time, control the movements of the environment.
2.The floor to play
The surfaces of asphalt, gravel or concrete were frequent in the playgrounds of yesteryear. Today is unacceptable. They are considered dangerous and unsafe. Its hard not absorb the impact of a fall and roughtexture increases the risk of cuts and scrapes. The coatings of rubber or synthetic materials are ideal because they face both problems. The earth and grass are better than cement, nodoubt, but can degrade with use and climate. If the park has this type of soil, should inspect it before going to play with the kids (especially if it rained). In either case, we must ensure that there is no standing water, sharp objects (such as glass orcans) or foreign with the little one can trip or hurt.
3.Different children, different areas
A two year old does not play like a ten, does not have the same strengthor the same size. This fact, which seems so obvious, is not covered at all playgrounds, which often lack play areas for children of different ages and some other or not specified for what age are designed facilities. In this respect, a safe park with clear information and, if admitted to children 2 to 12 years, has different areas (and bounded) to avoid having problems. An older child can hurt a small inadvertently if they run or jump in the same place, but more dangerous is that young children use games designed for the larger ones. If the sizes and proportions are not correct, there may be accidents. Are the most common? Small slide through an opening and fall from the top, while the not so young can get trapped in a structure that is not meant for them.
4.Signs for Parents
In connection with the foregoing, the signals are extremely important. Adults should know if the park is suitable for their children, if damaged or if there are games dangerous areas or repair. They should also be sure not to allow the entry of animals, as they represent a potential danger to children, and keep an eye emergency numbers in case something happened.
Therefore, it is always better to go to a park with information boards.
5.The hygiene of the playing area
A clean and well maintained park prevents infections, diseases and problems.
How is the level of hygiene of the park where we go? Did you visit the gardeners and cleaning staff regularly? These issues are crucial to ensure that children are exposed to bacteria or viruses. It should be noted cleaning the bins, soil and Game, the state of the plants, shrubs and trees (if the park has them) and the correct operation of the lighting.
6.The park and its maintenance
The inspection of the good state of the parks is fundamental. The games should not be broken: if of wood, be monitored with no chips or points, if they are metal, make sure that there are no sharp edges or rust. In addition, the attractions must be made of strong materials.And if there are any breakdowns, there has to be directed. For these reasons, a good preventive measure is to go to the park alone, without the kids, to makesure all is well. If so, we can return to them. If not, you will need to look else where for child recreation.
Children and park use :
As important as choosing a good park is making good use of it. For this reason, in addition to verify that everything is in place and in order, it is essential to teach children how to behave in these playgrounds.
Some simple ideas (but valuable) are:
•Games are safe if used for the purpose for which they were designed. Swings are for sitting rocking, the guardrails are not climbing frames and slides have to slide their feet forward.
•The higher are the structures provides less damping the soil, whether the material is. We must prevent small about it and explain that they should be especially careful if you want to get into a game high.
•If we carry other items (such as a bicycle, a stroller or a bag of toys), it is important to keep them away from the area where children play and run, as they can trip over them and injure themselves.
•Speaking of running: it is a very healthy habit and beneficial, as long as there is no provision alongside the attractions. You have to watch closely that no pushing, especially if mounted on a swing.
•Children should be taught from childhood to care and care for others. If you are going to jump or run, they have to be attentive to others. And, even faster than other kids (to climb the stairs of a slide), have to respect his turn and not push the child who is ahead.
•Before going to the park, it is helpful to agree rules with children. Besides the above, one must take into account the weather. If it has rained and the attractions (or floor) are wet, it is better not to play in the park, because they increase the risk of slipping and falling. If on the other hand has been hot and the games are hot to the touch, the visit will be postponed to avoid burns.
•In terms of clothing and accessories for children, should avoid using clothes with laces, belts or anything that could catch the games. For girls, who often usepurses, necklaces and bracelets of fantasy, we must agree with them that these items should be stored while playing in the park. Once finished, they were able to relocate.
