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The following is a list of recommended ground covers from the Consumer Product Safety Commission:
The Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Outdoor Home Playground Safety Handbook recommends to
install and maintain the playground equipment over at least 9 inches of wood chips, mulch or shredded rubber
(for equipment up to 8 feet high) or sand or pea gravel (for equipment no more than 5 feet high) as shock
absorbing material. Dirt and grass, which are the most prevalent surfaces under home playground equipment,
do not adequately protect children from serious head injuries. Install protective surfacing at least six feet in
all directions from play equipment. For swings, the surface should extend, in back and front, twice the height
of the suspending bar. You should consult a local contractor about ways to secure the product in your location.
Do not install your play set over hard surface, e.g. asphalt, concrete, packed earth, tile or brick floor. Please
refer to the CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION’S OUTDOOR HOME PLAYGROUND
SAFETY HANDBOOK for detailed guidelines to prevent injuries from falls and other hazards on public and
home playgrounds.
WEATHER CONDITIONS
•
DO NOT use this equipment if the swing seat, slide or other parts are wet. Use the play set only when the
parts are clean and dry. If the equipment is wet, the user could slip and suffer injuries.
•
Please be aware of weather conditions when using the equipment. If it is too windy, users could lose control
and suffer injuries. The playground equipment must be properly anchored, stored away or restricted from
use during inclement weather such as heavy winds or severe weather storms. You should consult a local
contractor about ways to anchor the product in your location.
PLAY SUPERVISION
• DO NOT allow more than one child to play on the swing, trapeze bar or slide at any one time.
• DO NOT allow children to stand on the swing seats or glide ride.
•
DO NOT allow children to walk too close to moving parts. ALWAYS keep a safe distance to avoid being
struck by other children while playing on swings, slides, trapeze, etc.
•
DO NOT allow children to twist the swing chains or ropes, or loop them over the top support bar as this
may reduce the strength of the chain or rope.
• DO NOT swing empty seats as this may cause injuries.
•
ALWAYS guide children to sit in the center of swinging parts, with their full weight placed in the seat
center and holding on to the swing chains.
•
DO NOT allow children to jump off the equipment while it is in motion. ALWAYS come to a full stop
before dismounting.
•
ALWAYS dress children appropriately for safe play, e.g. wear well-fitted rubber sole shoes, and remove
loose or sharp items such as jewelry, hair accessories, scarf, ponchos which may become entangled in the
equipment or cause injuries.
•
ALWAYS make sure children remove their bike or other sports helmets before playing on the playground.
Helmets can become entrapped in playground, posing a strangulation hazard.
• DO NOT allow children to slide down head first.
• DO NOT allow children to climb onto swing or jump to and from different play areas of the equipment.
ALWAYS return safely to the ground before approaching another play area.
•
DO NOT allow children to climb on structural parts (e.g. legs, top bar). These are structural components
and are not designed for play.
•
ALWAYS check the slide or other parts exposed to the body for extreme heat from the sun before allowing
children to use the equipment.
• ALWAYS prevent access and secure from any unauthorized use when there is no adult supervision.
• DO NOT allow pets or other animals near the equipment to prevent damage or injuries.
SUGGESTED MATERIAL
Double Shredded Bark Mulch
Uniform Wood Chips
Fine Gravel
Fine Sand
SUGGESTED MATERIAL
9”
12”
12”
12”
