Test your knowledge or share this quiz at your department to remind everyone about safety when the playgrounds reopen:
By Joann Robertson
1.) You should always read the signs and labels at the playground before using it.
A.) True B.) False
Answer: A.) True
Playgrounds are designed for different age groups and the proper age range for the playground should be posted on a sign or a sticker on the equipment. Do not use a playground if it is designed for an older age group than your children, since a younger child could become overly challenged or the equipment could be too high. These situations may lead to an injury.
2.) What items should not be worn on a playground?
A.) Clothes with drawstrings B.) Bike helmets C.) Flip flops D.) All of the above
Answer: D.) All of the above
Clothing with drawstrings, lanyards, necklaces and similar items should be removed because they can become entangled.
Bike helmets should never be worn on a playground because they make a child’s head larger, which makes it more likely that they could become stuck in a playground opening and be trapped by their neck.
Flip flops are a trip-and-fall hazard when children are climbing and jumping.
3.) A child is fine to play on the playground with bare feet.
Answer: False
Children should wear shoes or sneakers (but not flip flops) to ensure proper grip on the equipment, as well as to prevent injuries such as burns, splinters or lacerations.
4.) What is not an acceptable playground surface?
A.) Hard-packed earth or grass B.) Blacktop C.) Concrete D.) All of the above
Answer: D.) All of the above
Playgrounds may have a variety of surfacing types, but avoid those without the proper surfacing materials.
5.) To maximize focus while kids are playing on a playground, one should: A.) Stay off the cell phone B.) Remove headphones C.) Keep your eyes moving D.) All of the above
Answer: D.) All of the above
Proper supervision is one of the keys to reducing playground injuries. Always remember to enter important emergency numbers into your phone.
Joann Robertson, CPSI, CSP, CPSCU, ARM, works at Playground Medic of Hawthorne, N.Y., as a certified playground inspector and certified safety professional.