Playing it safe: Playground safety tips for children in Ontario

Once your commute is planned, and your child is safe at school, the next thing to consider is playground safety. Here are three things to consider:

Play Structure Injuries: Common Accidents on School Property

One of the most common accidents that happen on school property is play structure injury. We see lots of broken arms, and sometimes ankles, that get injured from either jumping or falling off of the play structure. The playground can be a rowdy place, but sometimes accidents can be avoided. At most schools that go from junior kindergarten to grade 6 or grade 8, there are several play structures that are made to suit the size of children. If your child is supposed to stay on the junior play structure make sure he or she knows why.

Repairs and Maintenance: Keeping the Playground Safe

Once your child knows the rules of the playground, make sure it’s a safe place. As a parent, take a look around the playground when you drop your kids off in the morning up pick them up after school. One thing we see with the clients that have come to our offices is that play structures don’t always have the appropriate amount of sand or cushioning. At the beginning of the season the grounds are usually prepped and ready to go, but by mid-season with all the wear and tear the wood chips or sand may need refilling. Same goes for the up keep around the school, such as basketball courts and cement walks. If you see something that makes you think, “someone is going to get hurt on that,” someone probably will! Tell your school’s principal.

What Should I Do?

The problem with a lot of school property issues is that everyone knows about unsafe areas, but no one does anything about it. If you notice something astray on the playground, whether it’s broken equipment or a dangerous area, let the principal of the school know. The school principal is ultimately responsible not just for the school but the schoolyard.

For more information on these types of injuries, catch Ottawa personal injury lawyer Brenda Hollingsworth discuss schoolyard safety on CTV Ottawa Morning Live.

Get Informed: Ottawa Personal Injury Lawyer Discusses Schoolyard Safety

If you have a child that was injured on school property, learn more about your rights by booking a free consultation with the personal injury lawyers at Auger Hollingsworth at 613-233-1529.