How Safe Is Your Child’s Swingset or Playground

Several years ago, Connecticut Trial Lawyer's Association hired an independent playground expert to examine 25 school and park playgrounds around Connecticut. The results were alarming. There were 520 instances of equipment that could strangle, bolts and sharp edges that could cut and tear and 17 of those 25 playgrounds had hard surfaces that could cause broken bones and brain injury.

Recently, Connecticut Trial Lawyer's Association asked the same expert to do a follow up study. Almost two years later, he found that many of these playgrounds were still dangerous. Many have old equipment, like belt sling seats that were actually declared unsafe by their own manufacturer back in 1988. You should carefully review your child's swing set at home, as well as at the local playground. Don't assume the conditions or equipment are safe. Ask yourself these questions:

1. Are there hooks, gaps, holes or catch points that can catch your child. Can a child's head get stuck between parts of the equipment? Pay particular attention to the tops of slides or other areas where a child may catch himself and remain hanging off the ground.
2. Is there equipment that can cut, crush, pinch or shear? Are there sharp points, corners or edges, hardware that protrudes, exposed moving parts that can crush or shear fingers, toes or limbs?
3. Is the equipment in good condition? Is it rotted or corroded? Are there loose or missing items like handles, rails or seats? Loose splinters and decay in the wood? Is the equipment stable and well-anchored to the ground?
4. Is there a protective surface covering the ground? A deep bed of wood chips, sand or other soft material should be installed and maintained underneath the playground equipment to provide padding for falls.

Contact the person responsible for the playground. Most repairs can be made for little money. Hazardous equipment should be upgraded or removed immediately.