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5 hidden playground dangers parents should watch out for

ERs treat more than 200,000 children every year for playground-related injuries

5 hidden playground dangers parents should watch out for

ERs treat more than 200,000 children every year for playground-related injuries

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5 hidden playground dangers parents should watch out for

ERs treat more than 200,000 children every year for playground-related injuries

To many parents, riding down the slide with a child sounds like a sweet bonding moment. To pediatricians, it sounds like a broken leg waiting to happen. A New York mom's warning about this scary playground mistake went viral after she shared what happened to her child a few years ago, reports.

Heather Clare was holding her daughter Meadow in her lap when the 1-year-old's foot caught against the edge of the slide. A coincidentally taken at the exact moment of the break shows how this all-too-common injury can occur.

"I share this picture every year in hopes that the pain Meadow felt and the guilt that I still feel will save other babies and parents from the same," she . "Don바카라 게임 웹사이트t ever go down a slide with a baby on your lap. There is no SAFE way to go down a slide with your little (one)."

The slide's not the only part of the jungle gym parents should watch out for. Outdoor play sessions give kids a chance to grow physically, mentally and socially, but emergency rooms also treat more than 200,000 children every year for playground-related injuries, according to the .

You already keep an eye out for sharp edges and trip hazards, but researchers have attributed other parts of the park with big risk potential. The next time you pay a visit, remember these playground safety tips in accordance with (CPSC) recommendations and always watch your children carefully.

If you notice your playground could use some maintenance, contact your local parks and recreation department for assistance. You can also report injuries and incidents to the CPSC by calling (800) 638바카라 게임 웹사이트2772 or visiting .

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playground safety plastic slide
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Never go down the slide with your child.

It may seem safer to hold them close, but the weight of an adult creates much more momentum than a kid riding solo. That additional force and speed proves a big problem when a limb 바카라 게임 웹사이트 usually a foot 바카라 게임 웹사이트 gets caught on the edge of a slide and twists backwards. Out of 352,698 slide injuries recorded in a 13-year span, the identified these lower body fractures as the sustained on slides, with going down on another person's lap as the primary cause.

"While it may seem counterintuitive, it is likely safer for your child to go down the slide on their own," explains Rachel Rothman, Chief Technologist in the . "The slide is designed with certain weight and size restrictions for young children."

playground safety metal slide
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Watch out for burning-hot surfaces.

It's not just metal slides you need to worry about. Direct sunlight can still heat up plastic, paint or asphalt enough to cause serious injury.

The cites one incident where a child received second-degree burns from a plastic slide on just a 74 degree day. Protect your kids by dressing them in shoes and pants and carefully testing surfaces yourself first, especially darker colors.

"They absorb more of the sun's wavelengths than lighter colors," says , a senior textiles analyst in the .

playground safety s hooks
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Open S-hooks and small gaps can be very dangerous.

Open S-hooks can catch on clothes (a strangulation hazard) and bolt ends that stick out may cut or bruise skin if kids bump into them, according to the .

Small gaps pose a big risk too. In 2016, the agency issued a after small openings on the sides led to finger amputations for at least two children.

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playground rope net climber
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Beware of ladders and nets.

Climbing gives kids a chance to test their balance and coordination, but rungs or rope grids create a when the gaps can potentially entrap little ones' heads or bodies. Openings should measure less than 4 inches or more than 9 inches to prevent anyone from getting stuck.

playground safety monkey bars
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Grass and dirt can be just as risky as asphalt.

Asphalt and concrete obviously don't offer any shock-absorbing protection, but the same goes for grass and dirt because of wear and environmental factors. Safety-tested rubber or sand, pea gravel, mulch or wood chips in layers at least 12 inches deep can help prevent injuries. That surfacing should also extend at least 6 feet beyond any play equipment, but also check for barriers on elevated platforms and ramps that will rein in daredevils and prevent falls.