Teach Playground Safety

If you are with your child, checking equipment is important but teaching children to check themselves will ensure their safety by helping to avoid playground injuries – when you are not around. Check swings for broken links or damaged parts. Also check all equipment for missing bolts and parts. If your child is old enough to read, make sure they look for signs and follow written rules.

Learn and share the Playground S.A.F.E. Standards.

Teach Children Proper Equipment Use

Teach kids not to stand on swings or climb on areas not intended for climbing. Encourage children to take turns and to never push or roughhouse on the playground. Children should make sure other kids are not occupying the same area to avoid collisions. Teach children to check slides before sliding down and to never climb up a slide. Further, check equipment in direct sunlight to avoid playground injuries such as serious burns. In Alaska, children should also know to steer away from cold surfaces in winter and always wear winter gear while outside.

When Playground Injuries Occur

Sadly, playground equipment does not receive proper maintenance to avoid playground injuries and children can get hurt. If that happens, it is important for the owner of the playground to be held liable. Children are young and sometimes fragile; adults have a responsibility to make sure play areas are safe and prevent playground injuries. If your child suffers playground injuries, take photos of the incident location and contact an attorney to discuss your case.

Johnson Law has been helping Alaskans for nearly 30 years. It’s who we are.

And while we hope you never need us… We’re here if you do. ~ Doug Johnson

Sources: Safe At Play; Playground Guardian

Image Source: Creative Recreational Systems

Holiday Events

Many businesses and organizations have holiday events like making decorations, gift exchanges, and holiday parties. There are also many community events, such as public markets and craft fairs. Keep children safe. Be sure to confirm plans with your family of when and where to meet up if you divide the group in a public area. Remind kids to never leave with a stranger.

Be especially careful when gift-giving. Buy only safe toys and gifts.

Be aware of potentially harmful situations, such as dangerous decorations, unstable rides or attractions, slippery walkways, and ice hanging over building entrances. Many young children enjoy climbing onto things, even when told not to. Keep children safe. Warn children of the danger for severe injuries from falls or from objects falling onto them. While most places take care of their sidewalks and entryways, it’s good to show children to be aware of where they are walking and to be cautious of icy conditions.

Keep Children Safe During Outdoor Activities

Winter break is the perfect opportunity for kids to spend time outdoors with friends. Snowball fights, building snowmen and forts, making snow angels, and winter sports are all waiting outside. Keep children safe. Before they run out the door, ensure they’re wearing appropriate clothing and gear. Wearing properly fitting boots, coats, snow-pants, gloves, and hats keep children warm and dry while enjoying the snow.

Also, know your kids’ plan before they leave. Make sure you know who they’re with, what they’re doing, where they’re going, and when they’ll be home.

When participating in winter sports, be sure your child is equipped with protective gear. Keep children safe. Remind your child to always wear a helmet when snowboarding and downhill skiing. Bring children indoors to regularly warm-up after playing outside in the winter to avoid sickness and cold related injuries.

Monitor Temperatures

Children are some of the most at-risk individuals during winter. They love being outside, but with outdoor activities comes danger. While parents generally put their children’s needs first, that is not always the case when children are with others. For instance, at school children should be monitored to ensure they do not get hurt.

In winter, it is even more important to watch children, since temperatures can drop dramatically resulting in hypothermia or frostbite. Keep children safe. It is always a good idea to keep your children in warm areas or near warm areas when they’re playing.

Keep Children Safe From Snowplow Dangers

Another risk to children in the winter is use of snowplows. Alaska’s snowplow operators work hard to make the roads you travel on as safe as possible. Make sure children understand the dangers of snow plows and how to play more safely.

Remind your child to stay away from the roads on days when they are home from school. Keep children safe by ensuring they dress in bright colors and reflective gear to help drivers see them. If they play in the roadways or in snow berms, it’s possible they could be hit by a snowplow.

From all of us at Johnson Law, P.C., we wish you a safe and happy holiday season.

Johnson Law, P.C. has been helping Alaskans for nearly 30 years. It’s who we are. And while we hope you never need us… We’re here if you do. ~ Doug Johnson

Secondary Source: Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities; Mayo Clinic Health System

Image Source: Pack More Into Life