Playground Equipment

Each year in Canada, thousands of children are hurt at playgrounds, playing on equipment such as slides, monkey bars and swings. Playground injuries include fractures, spinal injuries and head injuries.

A number of these injuries involve a child falling from an elevated surface. Not surprisingly, the harder the surface, the more likely it is that the injury will be severe. The ground beneath playground equipment should be impact-absorbing : either synthetic or loosely filled with wood fibre, sand, or pea gravel.

Some children have died when their clothing or drawstrings got caught on playground equipment or on fences. Children have also died when they became entangled in ropes or skipping ropes that had been attached to playground equipment.

Safety Tips

• Remove cords and drawstrings from children's hoods, hats and jackets.
• Tuck in all clothing that can get caught on playground equipment.
• Get children to wear a neck warmer instead of a scarf.
• Take off bicycle helmets before using playground equipment. Bicycle helmets can get trapped on equipment and strangle a child.
• Make sure children do not tie ropes or skipping ropes to slides and other playground equipment.
• Supervise children on the playground.
• Teach children how to use playground equipment and play safely.

For more information

More about playground equipment safety:

• Injuries Associated with Playground Equipment (PDF Version 62 K)
  A Public Health Agency of Canada fact sheet showing rates of playground injuries reported to Canadian hospitals in 2000.
• Safe Kids Canada
  Safe Kids Canada promotes effective strategies to prevent unintentional injuries.

General information about the safe use of children's products:

• Is Your Child Safe?
  A practical guide to help parents keep their children safe and avoid common childhood hazards.
• Safety with Radar
  An activity booklet for children, highlighting key safety messages.
• Child and Youth Injury in Review, 2009 Edition - Spotlight on Consumer Product Safety
  A report on injuries among young Canadians, with a focus on injuries related to consumer products (in the second half of the report).
• Information for Shoppers of Second-hand Products
  This guide helps shoppers to be aware of potential hazards that second-hand products may pose.
• For Industry and Professionals
  An index page providing information on related guidance and regulations intended for industry and professional audiences.

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