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Playground Safety. Ed Stallard Certified Playground Safety Inspector Mesa Public Schools. The playground…. The place where children run, laugh, take risks and explore the possibilities The place where imagination and spontaneity rule the moment
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Playground Safety Ed Stallard Certified Playground Safety Inspector Mesa Public Schools
The playground… • The place where children run, laugh, take risks and explore the possibilities • The place where imagination and spontaneity rule the moment • The place where play claims a major role in childhood development
Skills learned at the playground… • Agility • Strength-building • Self-expression • Coordination • Creativity • Independence • Social • Sharing
Why playground safety? • A child assumes that a playground is safe to play on • A child assumes the risk of play • A child is not aware of a potential hazard associated with that moment or act of play
With children at play… No hope of having an injury-free play area
CPSC Publication #325, 2008…Public Playground Safety Handbook Federal Guideline & Recommendation ASTM F1487-07… Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Playground Equipment for Public Use National Voluntary Standard Two Primary U.S. Playground Safety Documents…
NPSI-National Playground Safety Institute CPSC-Consumer Products Safety Commission ASTM-American Society for Testing and Materials International IPEMA- International Playground Equipment Manufacturers Association NPCAI-National Playground Contractors Association NPPS-National Program for Playground Safety U.S. Organizations concerned with Playground Safety…
Age-appropriate Head entrapment Neck entrapment Entanglement Pinch-points Sharps Surfacing Lead Paint Fall zones Obstructions Fatigue and wear Corrosion So, what to look for…
Priority 1 Hazards… • Death • Brain Damage • Permanent Paralysis • Loss of Vision • Loss of Speech • Loss of Limb • Organ Destruction
Hazard Factors… • Possibility • Probability • Consequences
Playground Injury Factors… • Improper use/poor supervision • Poor maintenance • Inappropriate design • Installation issues • Site planning issues
Every playground will have… A safe play environment Age appropriate equipment and activities Compliance with standards and guidelines All of this, and children having fun! National Playground Safety Institute Vision:
Playground Safety Program… • Identify safety hazards • Rank the hazards • Apply knowledge Establish a comprehensive playground safety program
Mesa Public SchoolsPlayground Safety… • Training video • Training booklet • Playground hip-pack