Will Your Playground Pass Playground Safety Month Inspections in April?

Warm weather is coming! Yes it seems as if it has been coming and going in some areas all year long but really Spring is here and Summer isn't far behind. Oh how wonderful it will be to wake up everyday to the warm sunshine, birds singing, and kids playing in the yard. That's right; kids will now be spending more time outside at home and at school which makes April Playground Safety Month.

Playground safety means different things to different people but when it comes right down to it everyone has the same thing in mind, our kids.

When playground equipment sits all winter it not only gets dirty and grimy but it also becomes home for many creatures and critters. These critters begin venturing out as the weather gets nicer. These types of unwanted visitors make this one of the best places to begin your safety check and cleanup. Start by spraying and wiping down all equipment and toys. Make sure to clean every hole and corner since these spots make great homes for spiders, wasps, bees, bugs, and even birds. After cleaning off everything recheck the area for nests, webs, or anything that looks like it maybe used as a home for something. Also remember to pick up and move things. Check bushes, sandboxes, and under porches for snakes.

After you have cleaned and checked for unwanted visitors it's time to make sure the play equipment has held up against the rough winter weather. A good place to start is by checking the chains on swings, all seats and slides for cracks, and make sure there aren't any sharp edges or rough rusty spots that could cause a nasty cut or worse. Always make sure all screws and nails are in tightly in place with no ends sticking out. It may even be good ideas to go ahead and change your child's sandbox sand; this will insure that the sand is free from critters or harmful items like glass.

If it seems at this point that the playground equipment is in good shape and free of critters then it's time to move on to the playground surroundings. You need to check the ground for holes, stumps, or vines that may cause a nasty fall or hurt ankle. If there is a pond or any type of water around please make sure it is fenced off from your child.