BCI Burke Celebrates Playground Safety Week
FOND DU LAC, Wis. (PRWEB) April 22, 2015 -- Burke is celebrating National Playground Safety Week by providing educational tips and tools about playground safety. Founded by the National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS) in 1997, National Playground Safety Week is “a time to focus on children’s outdoor play environments. A time to pledge to use good judgment when playing. A time for gratitude for all the adults who work tirelessly on maintaining our playgrounds.”
“Playgrounds are an attraction for kids of all ages,” said Michael E. Phelan, president and CEO of BCI Burke Company. “Unfortunately, each year more than 200,000 children are seriously injured on America’s playgrounds, according to statistics reported by NPPS and we are focused on helping kids and adults be aware of the safest way to play and the best way to supervise kids,” said Phelan.
Burke is committed to the safety of all children on playgrounds and is the only playground manufacturer to partner with NPPS and provide a free Safe Playground Supervision Kit with each play system purchased.
Education is the first step towards helping school children, caregivers and families reduce injury statistics and make visits to the playground safer. Important tips to be aware of include:
• Children vary in developmental and physical abilities so a play area should be provided for preschoolers, ages 2-5 as well as a separate play area for children ages 5-12. Children should play on age-appropriate equipment.
• It is vital to use surfacing around play structures. Options include, but are not limited to, engineered wood fiber, rubber, rubber tiles or synthetic grass. It is best to consult with a certified playground installer or your playground manufacturer to ensure all safety guidelines are followed.
• Be aware of openings on the various parts of the play structures – they should measure less than 3.5 inches or more than 9 inches to prevent strangulation and trapping a child at play.
• Make sure debris and litter are cleaned up promptly to prevent a tripping hazard as well as a health issue.
• Look for safety signs on playgrounds that help inform parents and other supervisors which structures are appropriate for the age of the children in their care and remind them about adult supervision requirements.
• Always supervise children at play. A majority of injuries occur on playgrounds because children are not being monitored by adults.
• Be on the lookout for broken parts, rust, protruding hardware, sharp edges or other areas of disrepair.
• Choose a cooler part of the day to play, if possible. Be sure to apply sunscreen to protect children’s delicate skin.
• Interact with children at play. They take great pride in showing adults what they can do and this allows for better attention to safety.
For more information about playground safety or Burke products visit http://www.bciburke.com.
Sarah Lisiecki, BCI Burke Company, http://www.bciburke.com, +1 9209219220, [email protected]
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