Playgrounds and outdoor play equipment offer kids fresh air, friends, fun, and exercise. But it's important to make sure that faulty equipment, improper surfaces, and unsafe behavior don't ruin the fun.

The main points are as follows:

• Adults supervise children playing outdoors equipment is the key

• Children should know the precautions for outdoor equipment

• Outdoor equipment swing safety

1. Adults supervise children playing outdoors equipment is the key

Adults can help preventing injuries by making sure kids properly use playground equipment. If an injury does happen, an adult can help the child and give any needed first aid right away.

Kids should always have adult supervision on the playground. Keep your eyes on young kids (and sometimes older ones) because they can't always be sure of distance and may not expect dangerous situations. Older kids like to test their limits on the playground, so it's important for an adult to keep them in check.

2. Children should know the precautions for outdoor equipment

Never push or roughhouse while on jungle gyms, slides, seesaws, swings, and other equipment.

Use equipment properly — slide feet-first, don't climb outside guardrails, no standing on swings, etc.

Always check to make sure no other kids are in the way if they're going to jump off equipment or slide, and land on both feet with their knees slightly bent.

Leave bikes, backpacks, and bags away from the equipment and the play area so that no one trips over them.

Always wear a helmet while bike riding, but take it off while on playground equipment.

Never use playground equipment that's wet because moisture makes the surfaces slippery.

Check playground equipment in the summertime. It can become uncomfortably or even dangerously hot, especially metal slides, handrails, and steps. So use good judgment — if the equipment feels hot to the touch, it's probably not safe or fun to play on. Contact burns can happen within seconds.

Wear clothes without drawstrings or cords. Drawstrings, purses, and necklaces could get caught on equipment and accidentally strangle a child.

Wear sunscreen when playing outside even on cloudy days to protect against sunburn.

Safe Equipment Guidelines

Swings, slides, and climbing equipment have different safety concerns. And some kinds of equipment are not safe for playgrounds, no matter how careful kids are.

3. Outdoor equipment swing safety

Swings are the most common source of childhood injuries from moving equipment on a playground. But a few simple precautions can help keep kids safely swinging:

Swings should be made of soft material such as rubber or plastic, not wood or metal.

Kids should always sit in the swing, not stand or kneel. They should hold on tightly with both hands while swinging, and when finished swinging, stop the swing completely before getting off.

Children should stay a safe distance from other kids on swings, being careful not to run or walk in front of or in back of moving swings.

Kids should never ride with more than one child to a swing. Swings are designed to safely hold only one person.

I hope that after reading this article, readers can guide children to use the outdoor playground equipments safely. Let the children have a beautiful and safe childhood. Thank you for reading.