The playground

Caillou, like every child, enjoys playing with friends at the playground. But, playgrounds are anything but fun when your child gets injured. Keep the "play" in playground with these safety tips.

Stay super-safe with supervision
Supervised children are much less likely to be injured on playground equipment. Stay one step ahead of your child by keeping a close eye on her activities.

Practice good fashion sense
Loose clothing or anything that hangs or dangles can easily become tangled on playground equipment. Dress your child in clothing that fits properly, allowing for a full range of motion. Also, remove items such as hoods and neck drawstrings from all children’s outerwear to decrease the chance of accidental strangulation.

When less is better
Safety equipment is designed to protect children while they are performing a particular activity. Always remove special safety equipment when an activity is completed. Items such as a bike helmet, or wrist pads could actually increase your child’s chance of injury on playground equipment.

Big or small, there’s something for all
Playgrounds are designed for children of all ages. Show your child which playground equipment is appropriate for his age group and limit his activities to those apparatuses.

Check for properly maintained equipment
Remember to check each piece of equipment for dangerous surfaces such as sharp edges or rust. All elevated surfaces, like platforms and ramps, should have guardrails to prevent falls. Report all non-functioning equipment to the playground, school or park manager.

Look out below!
The majority of playground injuries involve falls. Check under playground equipment for softer, more forgiving surfaces. Surfaces such as hardwood fiber/mulch, pea gravel, sand and rubber mats will help cushion falls. Avoid playgrounds with concrete, asphalt, grass, blacktop, dirt or rocks as surface areas.

Keep your cool, even when it’s hot
Avoid overexposure to the sun. Schedule outdoor activities before 10 a.m. and after 3 p.m. (standard time) or before 11 a.m. and after 4 p.m. (daylight savings time). Also be sure to apply plenty of sunscreen to all exposed areas. Your sunscreen should have a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15. Also, pack juice or water. Not only is it refreshing, it will keep you and your child hydrated.