It finally feels like summer is here. The opportunities for fresh air while playing outside are increasing each day. Free play at the city park or in the backyard promotes exercise, fine and large motor development, and is great for overall mental health. But, it does come with its own set of risks.

With over 200,000 playground-related injuries reported in emergency rooms, parents, caregivers and children should learn a few basics in playground safety. You can make it a safe place to play by being able to identify potential hazards and following safety guidelines.

It begins with YOU.

Adult supervision is so important. Unless you are using your phone to take pictures, put your phone away. Be present in the child’s activity and keep a close eye. Kids can take a risk on equipment when you are not looking. I suggest taking a small first aid kit with you in the event an accident does happen.

Equipment safety checklist

Be a safety advocate by heeding to the following suggestions when evaluating the equipment and its surroundings:

Make sure the equipment allows you to see your children clearly when playing on all the equipment.

Concrete, asphalt and blacktop surfaces are unsafe and unacceptable. Grass, soil and packed-earth surfaces are also unsafe because weather and wear can reduce their capacities to cushion a child’s fall.

The playground surface should be free of standing water and debris that could cause kids to trip and fall, such as rocks, tree stumps and tree roots. There should also be no dangerous materials, like broken glass or twisted metal.

The surfaces may be loosely filled with materials like wood chips, mulch, sand, pea gravel or shredded rubber. Surfacing mats made of safety-tested rubber or rubber-like materials are also safe. Rubber mats allow the best access for people in wheelchairs.

Playground equipment should be designed for different age groups and children should stick to their appropriate age zone.

Be sure there are no spaces that could trap a child’s head, arm or any other body part.

There should be no broken, crackling, splintering or rusty equipment.

Teaching playground behavior

It is important to teach children proper playground behavior during the summer. This behavior will carry over to experiences in school, at daycare and with visits with friends and family.

Never push while on jungle gyms, slides, seesaws, swings and other equipment.

Use equipment properly — slide feet first, don’t climb outside guardrails, no standing on swings.

Never use playground equipment that’s wet because moisture makes the surfaces slippery.

Check playground equipment in the summertime. It can become uncomfortable or even dangerously hot, especially metal slides, handrails and steps. So use good judgment – if the equipment feels hot to the touch, it’s probably not safe or fun to play on. Contact burns can occur within seconds.

Wear clothes that do not have drawstrings or cords. Drawstrings, purses and necklaces could get caught on equipment and accidentally strangle a child.

We hope you and your family are having a safe and happy summer. Please take time to enjoy one another — to live, laugh, love, read, learn and play.

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Carrie Kube is a Director for Iowa River Valley Early Childhood Area Board. All thoughts and opinions expressed are that of the author and not the Board and/or its community partners.