BYO Recreation Recommends Schools & Child Care Centers to Inspect Playground Equipment Before the New School Year Begins
St. Augustine, FL (PRWEB) July 31, 2013 -- BYO Recreation & Teachers’ School Supply urge schools and child care centers nationwide to double check the safety of their playground equipment before the new school year begins.
Over time key playground parts can become worn down. Creating a general maintenance schedule and periodically examining playground equipment can help administrators keep up with parts that may eventually need to be repaired or replaced.
For instance, swing sets; this playground staple is one of the most popular attractions for children of all ages. Constant use and general wear and tear, due to time and weather, make swing set parts, such as S-hooks, some of the most replaced parts on a playground. Periodic examinations allow administrators to catch worn out parts before they become a problem that could injure a child.
According to BYO Recreation’s playground designer Sandra Nance, Certified Playground Safety Inspector, when examining a swing set administrators should check the S-hooks to make sure they are closed. S-hooks are considered closed when there are no gaps or spacing greater than 0.04 inches—about the thickness of a dime. An S-hook is often part of a swing’s suspension system, either attaching the suspending elements to the overhead support bar or to the swing seat. Open S-hooks can catch a child’s clothing and present a strangulation hazard.
Nance also recommends checking the level and distribution of mulch. Mulch should be at least 12 inches deep and at a constant level throughout the playground. Maintaining the surfacing around swing sets and playground equipment is essential to safety. Over time, mulch can become compact and displaced, especially at high-use areas like underneath swing seats and at the end of slides.
“Safety surfacing plays a very important role in reducing the likelihood of life threatening head injuries. A fall onto a shock absorbing surface is less likely to cause a serious head injury than a fall onto a hard surface,” said Nance. “However, some injuries from falls, including broken limbs, may occur no matter what playground surfacing material is used.”
Raking mulch is a great way to check the depth and prevent the mulch from becoming compacted. If mulch is not at required depths, refill product should be ordered and distributed around the playground equipment and use zone.
Additionally, administrators can opt to utilize wear mats. These are often placed under the seats of swing sets and at the end of slides because the mulch in these areas is moved and compacted down at a higher rate. When wear mats are used, the need for maintenance attention is reduced.
Examining playground equipment and safety surfacing keeps children safe and secure, which is BYO Recreation’s main priority. Every playground the company designs and sells meets or exceeds the Consumer Product Safety Commission regulations and American Society for Testing Materials standards, while simultaneously being a fun and challenging play structure for children.
For more information about playground safety and maintenance, visit http://www.byoplayground.com or call 1-800-853-5316,
About BYO Recreation
Headquartered in St. Augustine, FL, BYO Recreation is one of the most comprehensive and fastest growing recreational equipment suppliers in the world. Since 1999, the company has helped thousands of schools, churches and communities create recreational spaces that are truly Beyond Your Ordinary.
About Teachers’ School Supply
Teachers’ School Supply, headquartered in Saint Augustine, Fla., is one of the largest school furniture, school equipment and school supplies distributors in the country. Since 1987, the company has provided high-quality, affordable equipment and superior customer service to thousands of churches, daycares and schools. For more information about Teachers’ School Supply, visit http://www.teacherssupply.com.
Bianca Askevold, BYO Recreation, http://www.byoplayground.com, 800-853-5316, [email protected]
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