Transcript Injury Prevention - Extension Online: online courses

Editor: LaShonda Y. Brown, NTI Trainer
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
Playground Safety
 List hazards most common to playground
structures
 Assess outdoor play areas and provide
recommendations
 Describe playground safety and
supervision recommendations
 Describe age-appropriate playground
areas
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
Outdoor Learning Environments
 Explain the developmental impact of a high quality
outdoor play environment
 List three components of a high quality outdoor
learning environment
 Describe the importance of having different types of
outdoor play available
 Provide recommendations on optimizing the
playground
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
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Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
The Difference Between
Risk and Hazard
a RISK contains
a decision or judgment
a HAZARD cannot be seen by a child
and therefore cannot be judged
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
There are three reasons why a child care
provider should provide a safe playground
environment:
1. It is morally the right thing to do
2. It is backed by child care requirements
3. Negligence could result in liability claims
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
It is the obligation of a child care provider to
supply a physically and emotionally safe
environment for the children in their care
On the playground, a safe environment is one
where the hazards are removed or addressed
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
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Emphasize the importance of outdoor
settings as learning environments
Ensure that adequate space, materials, and
time are devoted to outdoor learning
Encourage the use of a variety of outdoor
projects and activities
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
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1988 CPSC Data
 More than 150,000 playground related injuries per year
 A playground related injury = an emergency room visit
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1994 CPSC Data
 More than 200,000 playground related injuries
 Estimate of 17 playground related deaths per year
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1999 CPSC Data
 More than 205,000 playground related injuries
 Fractures were the most commonly reported injury
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
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Nationally nearly 70% of playground
related injuries are from falls
Fall injuries are a result of two things
 the height a child falls from
 the material/surface the child falls upon
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Provide “soft,” resilient, surfaces under
and around stationary playground
equipment
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
Wood mulch
Double shredded bark mulch
Engineered wood fiber
Sand, both fine and coarse
Pea gravel (!!ONLY in play areas for children 3
years or older!!)
 Manufactured/synthetic surfaces that meet the
ASTM 1292 standard
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Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
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Critical height - the maximum height a
child may climb, sit or stand on the play
equipment
The depth of surface should be based
upon the critical height of the equipment
The higher the equipment, the deeper the
surface!!
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
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Surfacing (at the appropriate depth) should
be placed around stationary play equipment
for a distance of 6 feet
This six foot area around stationary play
equipment is called the “fall zone”
Stationary equipment anchors located in the
fall zone must be covered with surfacing
material and not exposed
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
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Fall zones may only overlap in certain situations:
 Between two swing sets
 Around spring rockers
 All other play equipment that share a fall zone must be less than
30” in height
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Special Fall Zones
 To-Fro Swings
 Tot Swings (enclosed seats)
 Tire Swings
Swing seats should be constructed from a
soft, flexible material !!
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
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X
X =8 feet
16 feet
Fall zone should be
equal to twice the
distance from the
pivot point to the
surface (X), to the
front and back of the
swing
16 feet
2 x 8 (X) = 16
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
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Y
Y = 6 feet
12 feet
12 feet
Fall zone should be
equal to two times the
distance from the
pivot point to bottom
of the swing seat (Y),
to the front and back
of the swing
2 x 6 (Y) = 12
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
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H
H = 5 feet
6 feet
6 feet
11 feet
Fall zone should be equal
to six feet plus the
measurement of the
distance from the pivot
point to top of the swing
seat (H), to the front and
back of the swing, and six
feet around the support
structure
6 feet + 5 feet (H) = 11 feet
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
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Guardrails prevent inadvertent or unintentional falls from
elevated platforms
Barriers prevent attempts to climb over, around or
through
Elevated platforms intended for different ages have
different requirements
 Both preschool and school age children
 Preschool children only
 School age children only
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
A
If equipment and height of
is used by
elevated
surface is
B
C
then
minimum
height top
surface is
and height
lower edge
is
Preschool
and School
Age
> 20” but ≤ 30” ≥ 38”
≤ 23”
Preschool
> 20” but ≤ 30” ≥ 29”
≤ 23”
School Age
> 30” but ≤ 48” ≥ 38”
≤ 28”
B
C
A
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
A
B
If equipment is
used by
and height of
elevated surface is
then minimum
height top surface is
Preschool and
School Age
> 30”
≥ 38”
Preschool
> 30”
≥ 29”
School Age
> 48”
≥ 38”
B
A
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
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Sharp points
 Play equipment should not be able to puncture a child’s
skin
 Open, exposed ends of tubes or pipes should be covered
or plugged
 Wooden parts should be sanded smooth and not
produce splinters
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Corners
 Metal or wood corners should be rounded
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Edges
 Metal edges should have rounded capping or be rolled
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
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Paint
 Metal surfaces should be painted or galvanized to
prohibit rust
 To prevent lead poisoning, paints or finishes used on
playground equipment must meet the Federal Law - Title
16, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1303
▪ No more than 600 parts/million maximum lead by dry weight
 If you are concerned about potential lead-based paint
hazard with your play equipment, contact your
consultant for guidance on lead hazard assessment and
control
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
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Playground
equipment
components should
not be able to
entangle children’s
clothing
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
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Play pieces or components that….
 Move against one another
 Move relative to a stationary component
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should not allow children access!
Equipment that might have pinch, crush, and shear
points:
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Merry-go-rounds
Seesaws
Spring Rockers
Sand Diggers
Clatter Bridges
 Steering Wheels
 Tire Swing Chains
 Tricycle Go-Rounds
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
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Any opening on play equipment or structure where
a child could get stuck:
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Stairs
Decks
Ladders
Rope climbers
Barriers
To prevent entrapment, openings should be smaller
than 3.5” or greater than 9.0”
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
9.0”
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A child’s torso
is smaller than
a child’s head
Cross Section of a five
year old child’s head (95th
Percentile) from the tip of
the chin to the back
of the head is 9.0”
Cross Section of a two-year old child’s
(5th percentile) torso is 3.5” by 6.2”
Back
6.2”
3.5”
Belly Button
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
Children’s clothing can become
entangled in play equipment
 Areas that can entangle clothing include
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 Protrusions and projections
 Upright “V” angles of less than 55
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
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Defined - any “V”
shaped corner less than
55  formed by
adjacent components
of play equipment
Exception I - if one leg
of the “V” is horizontal
or sloping downwards
x
Horizontal
X  55 
Horizontal
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
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Locate yourself so you can see the children
at play, and they can see you
Enforce proper use of play equipment!
Review playground rules with children in
class and on the playground
If equipment is broken, prevent children
from using by:
 removing the equipment from the playground or
 placing a barrier around the broken equipment
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
Alert & attentive
Aware of age
appropriate equipment
 Observing signs
 Know & apply safe
playground rules
 Having a plan
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Training the children to
use equipment
correctly
 Being consistent with
ratios
 Intervening
 Ensure safe clothing
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Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
 Your field of vision
should not exceed
180°
 Make sure that one
piece of play
equipment does not
block your view of
others
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
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Supervise near high
use or potentially
dangerous areas
If more than one
teacher, swap
positions at least once
during the play period
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
Supervision on the
playground is just as
important as supervision in
the classroom!
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
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Sense of freedom for children and teachers
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Health benefits from physical activity
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Technology eating into outdoor time
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
Getting out the door
Safety outdoors
Developing outdoor
space
 Program and materials
for outdoor play and
learning
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First aid kit
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
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Active physical play
Engaged in
Observation
Quiet
Dramatic
Creative
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
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Child Directed
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Teacher Directed
Community Independent School, Chatham County
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
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Play crates
Transition area
Observation
opportunities
Semi-structures
Digging areas
Multiple age service
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
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Engaging activities
Storage space
Water
Access to emergency medical sources
Access to restrooms
Interaction with the natural environment
Open space
Inclusive environment
Routine maintenance
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
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In the next section, you will find a link to an
activity that asks you to compare Caring For
Our Children (CFOC) standards with Texas
Child Care Licensing standards.
Download and complete the activity.
Submit the activity to your facilitator via email.
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants
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This concludes the informational portion of
the course.
Please click on the “Next Section” button to
advance to the post-test.
To review previous sections, click on desired
title in left menu bar.
Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants