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Home Playground Safety Checklist
from the US Gov't.
- Install and maintain a shock-absorbing surface around the play equipment. Use at least 9 inches of wood chips, mulch, or shredded rubber for play equipment up to 7 feet high. If sand or pea gravel is used, install at least a 9-inch layer for play equipment up to 5 feet high. Or, use
surfacing mats made of safety-tested rubber or rubber-like materials.
- Install protective surfacing at least 6 feet in all directions from play equipment. For swings, be sure surfacing extends, in back and front, twice the height of the suspending bar.
- Never attach–or allow children to attach–ropes, jump ropes, clotheslines, or pet leashes to play equipment; children can strangle on these.
- Check for hardware, like open "S" hooks or protruding bolt ends, which can be hazardous.
- Check for spaces that could trap children, such as openings in guardrails or between ladder rungs; these spaces should measure less than 3.5 inches or more than 9 inches.
- Make sure platforms and ramps have guardrails to prevent falls.
- Check for sharp points or edges in equipment.
- Remove tripping hazards, like exposed concrete footings, tree stumps, and rocks.
- Regularly check play equipment and surfacing to
make sure both are in good condition.
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Carefully supervise children on play equipment to make sure they are safe.
Bicycle Fact Sheet from the U.S. Gov't.
CPSC Document #346
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that over 600,000 persons suffered bicycle-related injuries serious enough to require hospital emergency room treatment in 1994. Here are some typical cases:
- "Karen applied her hand brakes and lost control of her bicycle. She went down an embankment into a creek, and fractured her shoulder."
- "As Jimmy was riding his bicycle downhill, the front wheel of his bicycle suddenly became loose and twisted. Jimmy lost control, fracturing his knee."
- "Bob was riding a bike without a chain guard when his foot caught between the pedal and chain. He fell, suffering a concussion and skull fracture."
- "Michele was riding her bike alongside a friend's. As her friend moved his bike to the right, the two front wheels collided, causing Michele to fall. She suffered a concussion and fractured a wrist."
- These case histories illustrate some major accident patterns associated with bicycles. They are:
- Collision with a car or another bicycle.
- Loss of Control -- This occurs because of a number of factors, including: difficulty in braking; riding too large a bike; riding too fast; riding double; stunting; striking a rut, bump, or obstacle; and riding on slippery surfaces.
- Mechanical and Structural Problems -- These include brake failure; wobbling or
disengagement of the wheel or steering mechanism; difficulty in shifting gears; chain slippage; pedals falling off, or spoke breakage.
- Entanglement of a person's feet, hands, or clothing in the bicycle.
- Foot slippage from pedal.
- To make bicycles safer, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission developed a mandatory safety standard for bicycles to help eliminate injuries due to mechanical and structural failures.
- The CPSC regulations establish strict performance and construction standards for the brakes, wheels, steering system and frame. They require reflectors on the front, back, sides and pedals to make bicycles visible at night; require elimination of uncovered sharp edges and jutting parts; and require brakes on bicycles with seat height of 22 inches or more. New bicycles are required to meet the standards.
- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission offers the following safety tips when shopping for a new bike or taking care of an old one:
Selecting the Bicycle
- If you're buying a bicycle for a child, choose one to fit the child's size today, not one he or she will "grow into" later.
- A bicycle should suit the rider's ability and kind of riding.
- Check hand and foot brakes for fast, easy stops without instability or jamming.
- Avoid slippery plastic pedals.
Look instead for rubber-treated pedals, or metal pedals with serrated rattrap edges or with firmly attached toeclips.
Using the Bicycle
- Always wear a helmet to help prevent head injuries. CPSC is setting a new mandatory standard for bike helmets.
- Observe all traffic laws and signals, just as automobiles must do.
- Don't ride double or attempt stunts.
- Ride near the curb in the same direction as traffic.
- Find alternate routes, rather than ride through busy intersections and heavy or high-speed traffic.
- Walk -- don't ride -- your bicycle across busy intersections and left turn corners.
- Avoid riding in wet weather. When wet, handbrakes may require a long distance to stop.
- Avoid riding in the dark. If you do, be sure the bike is equipped with a headlight, a
taillight and reflectors. Apply retro-reflective trim to clothing, or wear reflective vests and jackets.
- Avoid loose clothing or long coats that can catch in pedals or wheels. Leg clips or bands keep pants legs from tangling in the chain.
- Avoid crossing raised sewer grates.
Maintaining the Bicycle
- Regular maintenance is essential for safe riding. Refer to the owner's manual for the manufacturer's maintenance recommendations. An experienced repair technician should do complicated work.
- Align (or "true") wobbly wheels for better control. Spokes also may need adjustment.
- Replace all missing, damaged, or worn parts; for example, brake
pads, chainguards, chain links, spokes, screws and bolts, handlebar grips.
- Tighten and/or adjust loose parts.
- Periodically inspect frame, fork, spindles and other components for cracking.
- Parts should be adjusted to manufacturer's torque specifications.
- Inflate tires to recommended pressure, and replace worn tires.
- Lightly oil and clean moving parts. Keep oil off rubber.
- Keep bicycle indoors when not in use -- moisture may cause rust and weaken metal parts.
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The Danger of Electric Toys from the US Gov't.
CPSC Document #287
Electric toys and other electrically operated products intended for use by children can be extremely hazardous if improperly used, used without supervision, or not properly designed and/or constructed. The possible dangers are many: electric shock, burns, especially if the product has a heating element; and a wide variety of mechanical hazards common to toys in general, such as sharp edges and points and dangerous moving parts.
In 1973, the U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued safety regulations under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act for electrically operated toys intended to be operated from 110-125 volt branch circuits. These safety regulations specify, manufacturing, construction and performance requirements intended to reduce the risk of injury from these products. In addition, the regulations call for mandatory cautionary labels on both the articles and their shelf packages. Also issued were complementary toy regulations for sharp points,
edges, and small parts. In addition, there are applicable industry toy voluntary standards.
While these standards and mandatory regulations have reduced the risk of injury from electric toys and other electric products for childrem, adults must still be selective in purchasing toys, supervise their use at home, inspect them periodically, and repair, replace, or discard deteriorating toys.
Selecting a Toy
Do not buy an electrical toy, or any toy, for a child too young to use it safely. Always check the age recommendation on the shelf package. Remember that this is a minimum age recommendation. If a toy is labeled "Not Recommended for Children under 8 Years of Age," this does not mean that every child who is 8 years old is mature enough to operate it. The buyer must still take into account an individual child's capabilities.
Use of a Toy
Read the instructions accompanying the product carefully and then read them with any child who will be using the product and follow the manufacturers recommendations. Be sure that the child knows how to use the items safely, understands all the instructions and warning labels, and is aware of the hazards of misusing the toy. The instructions should be kept with the toy or in a safe place where they can be found easily.
Supervision
Supervise the use of any electrical product. Just how much supervision is necessary is again a matter of judgment. Consider both the maturity of the child and the nature of the toy.
Be sure that the plug of an electrical product fits snugly into wall outlets or (if they must be used) extension cord receptacles. To prevent electrical shock, no prongs should be exposed. Teach children always to disconnect an electrical appliance after use by grasping the
plug, not by pulling on the cord.
Keep infants and toddlers out of the area in which an electrical toy is being used.
Storage. All electrical toys should be put away immediately after use in a dry storage area out of the reach of younger children.
Maintenance and Disposal. Deterioration of electrically operated toys can present many hazards. Therefore, check on their condition periodically. Be alert for broken parts, frayed cords, and damage to
enclosures of wirinpand other protected components.
Only an adult or responsible older child should replace a light bulb on an electrical toy, as it is extremely important that the replacement bulb be of the proper wattage and that the plug is disconnected when the change is made.
Any product that has been so severely damaged that adequate repairs cannot be made should be discarded immediately.
Regulations
The CPSCs regulations address the major electrical, mechanical and thermal hazards of electric toys and other electrically operated children's articles. All electric toys must meet these provisions to be sold in the U.S. If you find or have a toy you think does not meet these requirements, please call the CPSC at 1-800-638-2772. Some of the most important provisions are listed below.
Electrical
- All live electrical components must
be securely enclosed. These enclosures must be designed so that they cannot be opened even with common household tools, such as a screwdriver or pliers. This does not apply, however, to the housings of replaceable light bulbs.
- Switches, motors, transformers, and the like must be securely mounted to prevent any non-functional movement and possible damage.
- Heating elements must be supported and prevented from making contacts that might produce shock hazards.
- Products designed for use
with water must have electrical components in a sealed chamber completely separate from the water reservoir (as in toy steam engines).
- Products requiring cleaning with a wet cloth must be designed to prevent seepage of water into areas with electrified parts, to prevent corrosion and electrical shock.
- Electrical plugs must have a finger/thumb grasping area and must have a safety shield to protect small fingers from accidentally contacting energized prongs while the toy is being plugged into
a wall outlet.
Mechanical.
- Enclosures must be strong and rigid enough to preserve the safety and integrity of the electrical components, even when the toy is subjected to foreseeable abuse.
-The toy's potentially hazardous moving parts must be enclosed or guarded to minimize the chance of contact.
- For pressurized enclosures such as steam chambers, there must be an automatic pressure-relief valve that will discharge in the safest possible direction.
Thermal.
-Products
must not exceed maximum surface temperature requirements. These temperatures are determined on the basis of accessibility of a particular surface, its function, and the material from which it is made. A surface to which a child cannot gain access, for instance. is allowed to reach a higher temperature than a knob or a carrying handle.
-Containers for holding molten compounds and hot liquids must be designed and constructed to minimize spills. No container should melt or become deformed when heated.
Toys
must comply with the CPSC's toy safety requirements, which incorporate rigorous "use and abuse" test procedures for toys intended for various age groups.
Labeling
The labeling requirements specify that certain precautionary information shall be listed on labels on children's electrical products. The labeling is designed to help buyers choose the right toy for the right age and to warn the user of potential hazards.
The package of every such product must carry a cautionary message and a minimum age recommendation. No item with a heating element may be recommended for children under 8 years of age. There are some
hobby items, such as woodburning kits, that reach very high temperatures and that been exempted from certain maximum surface temperature regulations. These items cannot be recommended for, and should be kept out of reach of children under 12 years of age.
Certain areas of the product itself must also be labeled:
- accessible surfaces that exceed certain specified temperatures must carry a warning of the danger:
- toys with replaceable electric lights must carry a warning of the maximum safe
wattage for a replacement bulb and a notice to disconnect the plug before changing the bulb;
- products with nonreplaceable lights will be so marked; and - products not designed to be immersed in water must carry a notice to that effect.
Instructions
All cautionary statements that appear on the toy or its package must also appear in the instructions that accompany it. These instructions must cover all aspects of safe use and maintenance and must advise parents of the necessity for examining the product periodically to be sure it is in safe working order.
These requirements help assure that electrically operated products for children will be as safe as can reasonably be expected.
Reminder
When electric toys or other electrical products are in use, the CPSC recommends plugging them into GFCI-protected circuits. A GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) will prevent many electrocutions.
Bibliography
For Kids'Sake. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFC1), U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Fact Sheet 99 "Requirements for Electric Toys or Other Electrically Operated Articles Intended for Use by Children, Code of Federal Regulations, Title 16, Chapter II, Part 1505. U.S. Government Printing Office.
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GeneaSearch
http://www.geneasearch.com
Resources to help find your ancestors including databases and free look ups.
Children's Web Magazine
An online children's magazine with varying subjects of interest each
month.
www.childrenswebmagazine.com
Educational-Toy-Guide
A guide to boost children's development, performance and skills with selected toys, games, craft & activities.
http://www.educational-toy-guide.com
 
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