Augusta County Schools Playground Safety Training:

1. Augusta County SchoolsPlayground Safety Training:

2. Playground Safety Facts • In the United States, an average of 250,000 playground related injuries and 17 playground related deaths are reported each year. • 44% of playground injuries result from inadequate supervision that contribute to playground injuries • Most playground injuries occur within the first five minutes of the children's arrival. • 79% Of injuries are the result of falls.

3. Three safety components • Safe equipment • Playground maintenance • Good supervisory practices

4. Safe Equipment Guidelines for planning and purchasing playground equipment are found in the handbook.

5. Playground Maintenance

6. Fall / Use Zone • Fall or use zone means the area underneath a piece of equipment and surrounding the equipment far enough to include a child’s trajectory in the event of a fall.

7. Critical Height • Based on tests, 9 inches of compressed Engineered Wood Fiber will protect a child on equipment up to 10 feet in height. • Twelve inches will protect a child on equipment up to 11 feet in height.

8. Resilient Surfacing Where playground equipment is provided, resilient surfacing shall comply with minimum safety standards…A fall zone shall encompass sufficient area to include the child’s trajectory in the event of a fall while the equipment is in use.

9. Resilient Surfacing • Should be at a minimum of 9-12 inches of Wood chips (engineered wood fiber). Refer to playground handbook.

10. Use/Fall Zone ~ Slides • Six feet on all sides • Four feet plus the height of the slide in front of the slide chute • a six foot high sliding board requires a 10 foot use zone

11. Use/Fall Zone ~ Swings • The basic use zone is 6 feet, however, for swings, the use zone is twice the height of the swing beam in the front and back • 6 foot beam = 12 or 24 foot use zone • 8 foot beam = 16 or 32 foot use zone

12. Entrapment • Head entrapment occurs when the body fits through a space but the child’s head cannot pass through the same space. • Young children’s heads are larger than their bodies.

13. Entrapment • Play equipment used by children shall meet the following requirements: • 1. Openings above the ground or floor which allow a 3.5 inch by 6.25 rectangle to fit through shall also allow a nine-inch circle to fit through;

14. Measuring Entrapment Spaces • The torso of a small child can pass through a 3.5 X 6.25 inch opening

15. Measuring Entrapment Spaces • The head of a child can pass through a 9 inch circular opening.

16. “S” Hooks • S-hooks, where provided, may not be open more than the thickness of a dime;

17. SUPERVISION When staff are supervising children, they shall always ensure their care, protection and guidance. –See Playground Handbook

18. Safe equipment is not enough becauseequipmentdoes notsupervise children

19. Active Supervision Means: • Clear lines of sight • Scan the area every 20 seconds • Move around and actively monitor behavior

20. Playground Supervision ToEnsure Supervision: • Have a plan • Active, not passive supervision • Establish rules of safe play or safe conduct • Anticipate: behavior before it occurs

21. A PLAN MEANS: • Your School has a written playground safety plan-see Handbook • The staff should know and follow the plan

22. Simple Playground Rules

23. ANTICIPATE MEANS: • Stop unsafe behavior immediately: • Bullying • Improper use of equipment • The “mad” dash • Unsafe clothing such as drawstrings on hoods

24. Anticipate: