A yard is one of the pleasures of owning your own home. In addition to the luxury of gardening and enjoying your morning coffee on the patio, your children will love being able to run and play outside. Installing playground equipment will attract their friends to your house and keep them all busy and happy. At the same time, you will be able to keep the kids at home where you can supervise them and still pursue your own activities. Playground equipment care and maintenance will ensure that no one get cut on screws or bolts that aren’t properly tightened.
It is critical that the jungle gyms and swing sets in your backyard are safely placed and well maintained. This equipment is fun but it can be very dangerous as well. Proper installation and upkeep will reduce the risks of accidents.
Location
Your play equipment needs to have a 6-foot fall zone in all directions. There shouldn’t be any obstacles (fences, bushes, or hard surfaces) that can cause injuries in case someone takes a tumble. Branches and pipes in the ground should be outside this perimeter as well.
Installation
Well-designed playground equipment is made from durable materials. Make sure it is assembled properly with high-quality hardware. The surface must be level and the equipment must be anchored firmly to the ground. Bumper pads will cushion corners and non-skid strips should be placed wherever children might slip.
Low-impact Surfaces
Responsible for almost 60% of playground injuries, falls on hard surfaces are common while children run and play. The impact on concrete, asphalt and even grass can injure a child who slips off the equipment. Mulch, wood chips, fine sand or fine gravel under the jungle gym can better cushion a fall.
Maintenance
A loose screw or wobbly piece of equipment could easily injure a child at play. Check regularly for unstable crossbars or loose nuts and bolts that could cause scrapes and you will avoid injuries and possible trips to the emergency room. Rust and cracking or split wood can also indicate deterioration of the equipment. Wood surfaces can develop splinters and cracks, but hard plastics can be more durable and smoother. These days most playgrounds are equipped with many safety features, but regular inspections will keep them fully operational.
Get Maintenance Help
In general, you should be able to handle any necessary repairs on playground equipment. Fixing the problem as soon as possible is very important, so if you do not have the time or the expertise, you will need to be able to call in some professional help. Most of issues with playground equipment can be corrected with simple tools like screws and hammers, but you will sometimes need to contact the manufacturer or a specialist to get better results. Your local handyman is accustomed to making this kind of repairs.
Let the Children Play Safety
Jungle gyms and swing sets allow your children to explore their imaginations right in their own backyard. Just make sure that your play equipment is safe. Have it installed according to manufacturer’s guidelines and then always keep an eye on your children.
