Let the children play but safety first in today's
playground; choosing a safety surface.
You'll just fall for our playground safety surface
ideas!
A playground is a refuge for children where they can play safely. That
seems like stating the obvious yet it is all-too-easy to overlook a simple
detail and suddenly unforeseen dangers are introduced. This article concerns
itself with one of the major dangers which is present in every playground and
how its effects can be dramatically reduced by some simple planning.
A playground by logical definition is a piece of ground where children play. For
'play' read climb, run, jump, swing, roll, hide etc. The common factor in all
these verbs is that they arise from the creation of an action whose driving
force is fun. To truly have fun, children need to forget parental constraints
and just let their hair down. As a result, it is no good expecting a child not
to swing upside down - if they can, they will. If there is a danger in them
doing so then either you need to create a playground where such an activity is
impossible (not likely to be a popular playground) or to remove or significantly
reduce the danger from doing it.
Since most accidents are created by falls, a surface which can absorb the force
of a falling child and not cause skin damage from ancillary grazing is
essential. Safety surfaces are now available but, as might be expected, there is
a considerable range in prices and you are likely to get what you pay for. Here
is a brief list of the main options.
Sand
Cheap and easily replaced but not effective for falls from any real height. Sand
is not particularly hygienic either.
Bark
Needs to be laid 10cm or thicker to have any real effect. Bark will cushion
falls from lesser heights quite significantly but its cushioning effect is lost
on accidents happening on higher bars. Bark needs regular topping up and its
effectiveness is reduced with usage (ie children walking or running over the
bark will break it up and that diminishes its effect.
Rubber mats
These are similar to those used in PE classes in schools. The effectiveness of
rubber mats in a playground is directly proportional to the thickness of the
mat. Unfortunately they are as easily removed as they are fixed and as a result,
they are prone to being stolen. Rubber mats also require regular replacing.
Rubber tiles
These are without doubt the most effective in reducing the effect of injury with
the better quality tiles able to absorb falls from up to 3 metres. Unfortunately
they are expensive to buy and require considerable preparation (they need to be
bolted down into a permanent layer which is also well-drained.
Don't forget whatever protective safety surface you have, if it is to be of any
use, it must extend beyond the perimeter of the play area of the playground.
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