Playground safety is a major concern for any parent or caregiver. It has to be noted that even minor injuries at play can lead to fatal situations. Over the years rubber mulch has gained much popularity owing to its safety benefits. It is a proven fact that a playground with rubber mulch has more shock absorbing power than a playground with sand.
There are certain safety guidelines to be followed regarding the depth of the mulch. It has to be placed at 9 inches deep. Since it can get compressed with the passage of time, it is advisable to be laid at an initial depth of 12 inches. It should be remembered not to lay down rubber mulch over asphalt or concrete. It is good to start with a layer of gravel and a geo textile fabric on top of it. Protective mats can be used if needed under slides or swings before the mulch is laid down. Regular check has to be done to avoid shifting and displacement of the mulch.
Rubber mulch is a favorite choice of playground in day cares and homes. Their smooth surface and cushions minimize playground impacts which can be dangerous. They are highly durable and come in vibrant colors enhancing the beauty of the playground.
With the announcement of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative to battle childhood obesity, The International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA) is reminding parents of the importance of providing an hour of free play outdoors in a safe play environment.
Let’s Move! has an ambitious but important goal: to solve the epidemic of childhood obesity within a generation.
Let’s Move will give parents the support they need, provide healthier food in schools, help our kids to be more physically active, and make healthy, affordable food available in every part of our country.
Join First Lady Michelle Obama, community leaders, teachers, doctors, nurses, moms and dads in a nationwide campaign to tackle the challenge of childhood obesity.
5 Playground Safety Tips from IPEMA.com
1. Don’t forget what’s below your feet! Grass is not an acceptable surfacing for playgrounds. One of the leading causes of injury on playgrounds is falling from playground equipment. To minimize the frequency and severity of injury from playground falls, it is crucial to have certified playground surfacing, such as rubber mulch surfacing installed under and around the equipment on any public playground. This surfacing is certified to have sufficient depth or thickness to minimize impact injuries from falls. Like you would find that when the white house had a playground installed, they chose recycled Playsafer Rubber Mulch and Rubber Curbs from Rubberecycle.com of Lakewood New Jersey.
2. Be an advocate for safety standards. Playground equipment and surfacing have been carefully evaluated by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). The standards set by these organizations help ensure that playground equipment and surfacing is age appropriate and designed with the measurement of children’s physical dimensions, skills and abilities in mind. IPEMA runs an industry-leading certification program to test and validate playground equipment and surfacing to meet ASTM standards.
3. Proper installation is key to safety! Playground equipment should be installed by individuals experienced in assembly directions and knowledgeable about the environment surrounding the playground, including soil, drainage and the use of other construction materials, tools, equipment and machinery. The manufacturers of specific pieces of equipment can provide certified installers, or the International Playground Contractors Association can provide assistance.
4. Check, re-check and then check again. Once the equipment and surfacing are installed have a post-installation safety audit performed by a person certified in playground safety prior to use. This audit will determine if any equipment or surfacing is non-compliant and will help prioritize any issues that should be corrected before the playing begins. Proper installation also includes posting signage about the age-appropriateness of specific equipment.
5. Don’t underestimate maintenance and upkeep. Proper maintenance can be forgotten — but is one of the most important aspects of ensuring safety on a playground. Maintenance processes must be in place on both a routine and long-term basis. Equipment must be checked for signs of damage following severe weather and for signs of vandalism or any other man-made or natural catastrophe. In addition, equipment will show natural wear and tear each year and regular maintenance inspections and replacement processes should be in place to minimize hazards.
Do you want to have a secure playground
for your loved ones? If the answer is yes then you have landed on the right post. Creating a safe and secure playground is an easy task if some tips and techniques are followed.
Nowadays there are many surfacing options available in the market. A high quality and durable surface of a playground makes it secure for children. According to a recent survey done, incidents of accidents in the playground are increasing very fast and there are many people who are trying their best to reduce these incidents.
Have you ever heard of rubber mulch? It is special type of material which is made up of recycled rubber tires. This material is non- toxic and environment friendly. There are many more benefits of rubber mulch. The mulch acts as a cushion in the garden or back yard. It can effective prevent different types of accidents.
The mulch is available in different colors and qualities. You can choose the color according to your need and taste.
It is a good idea to shop online. There are many benefits of online shopping. You can compare the prices offered by various companies.
Don`t forget to plan your budget in advance. In this way you will save some time and money.
Every kid enjoys time in the playground and back yard. Every parent is worried about the safety of their child in the playgrounds. There are many things which should be done for making the playground a safe place. It is a smart idea to surface the playground with a good material. Rubber mulch is one of the good materials available in the market. There are many benefits of rubber mulch.
Injuries and minor accidents are the part of children daily activity. They can often fall from swings and slides. The best part is that rubber mulch act as a cushion in the playground.
If you are planning to buy rubber mulch for your play area then there are many things which should be considered in advance. Mulch is available in many colors and varieties. I would recommend you to choose bright colors. Do not forget to plan a budget in advance. A proper budget can help you a lot in making the right choices.
Nowadays rubber mulch can be bought through online stores. Online shopping is always a good idea. You have lots of options while shopping online. But there are many things which should be considered. Always be careful while opting a website. The website you will be choosing should be secure and authentic.
Are you worried about the safety in your playground or back yard? Rubber mulch can help a lot in securing the playgrounds. Mulch minimizes the accidents and injuries in the playground area.
There are many more benefits of rubber mulch. Let’s discuss them one by one. Rubber mulch is almost six inches thick. This is more than the thickness of any other covering material used to surface playgrounds.
Rubber mulch is environment friendly because it can be recycled whenever you want. It is not so expensive like other surfacing options. It is cost effective and can be afforded by everyone.
Rubber mulch is available in various colors. You can use any type of color which matches the exteriors of your house. It is a smart idea to use favorite colors of your child. Mulch retains the moisture of the playground. It minimizes the dust in the playground. Pollution and dust in the playground can be cause of allergies in your child.
Rubber mulch is odorless and no toxic. It never attracts insects and termites and does not float.
Mulch can be used in many other places like riding arenas, swing sets, landscaping, waking paths, parks, restaurants and golf courses.
Kudos to Rubber Mulch for being the chosen playground safety surface by the white house staff for the first family playground.
Children having fun in a safe environment!
My kids used to come home muddy and dirty from playing outside. I tried to bring them to a park once a week so they can play and not get so dirty. I found a park that had Rubber Mulch. My kids were thrilled! They kept climbing the monkey bars and jumping off! They thought it was so cool that they didn’t get splinters or bruises.
I then decided to put Rubber Mulch in my yard! They were so happy! Their friends started always playing by my house. Here’s the website I ordered it from http://www.rubbermulch.com/playground.htm ,( I live in New Jersey) and my sister got Rubber Mulch to from http://www.rubberecycle.com/ ( she lives in Hawaii)I was really happy with the service!
Do you have kids at home? Are you always worried about their safety in the play grounds? If the answer is yes then keep reading this post. This post can help you a lot in enhancing the safety of your playground or back yard. Nowadays people are using different methods to increase the playground safety. But one of the best methods for securing your playgrounds is using playground mulch.
You can effectively minimize the risk of injuries by covering the play area by rubber mulch. The mulch acts a shock absorber. It works as a cushion when a kid falls on it. As a result it minimizes the impact of fall.
There are many more benefits of rubber mulch. It is very durable in nature. There is no effect of bad weather or rain. It does not rot or melts. It is available in different colors. You can use the color according to the taste of your child. It is a good idea to use combination of colors. Nowadays rubber mulch can be bought through online stores and websites. You can easily find a reputed website by typing the keyword in the search bar of major search engines. But beware of online scams and frauds. It is a smart idea to look for an old and reputed website.
A great upscale addition in the playground safety surfacing called rubber bond that is an upgraded and enhanced addition to the rubber mulch family.
Raising the Bar in Playground Surfacing:
Rubber Bond has raised the bar in unitary playarea surfaces. Although similar in appearance to conventional poured rubber surfaces, Rubber Bond is actually a patent pending breakthrough concept in solid play surfaces.
Rubber Bond surfaces are created by spreading a thick layer of loose Rubberecycle Rubber Mulch and then applying an additional layer of rubber combined with a high quality polyurethane bond.
The surface thus has all the shock absorbency of Playsafer Rubber Mulch, plus an additional layer of protection. Rubber Bond’s unitary surface provides a neat look with minimal maintenance while offering unrivaled safety performance.
Rubber bond safety surface is great for public playgrounds including school play area, community and public housing playgrounds.
We all agree that playground time can be just as vital as classroom time to a child’s social, emotional and educational development.
Due to school budget cuts and an increased focus on academic standards, millions of American schoolchildren may miss out on unstructured play with their peers including hopscotch, tag, kickball or jump rope.
Recess also functions successfully as an established school-based activity and should be carefully considered as part of any school health and wellness policy.
Despite mounting evidence that kids need an outlet to blow off steam, learn to interact with others and get the exercise they need, nearly 40 percent of American elementary schools have either eliminated or are considering eliminating recess.
On the other hand we need to make sure to follow all the playgrounds safety tips as mentioned by CPSC safety tips. Use this simple checklist to help make sure your local community or school playground is a safe place to play.
Playground surfaces can contain recovered rubber and PVC materials that are often more desirable than wood chips, sand, or asphalt, because they can provide more cushioning and thereby may be safer for children. You can find playground surfaces made with recovered materials at schools, military bases, and housing developments.
In the Playgrounds News from London, England. As you will read on what it means a 2010 playground for kids, and yes it is important for kids to have all writes and capability to play and enjoy playgrounds with safety.
Read on: Watford playgrounds set for £350,000 refurbishment
Three playgrounds in Watford will receive makeovers costing more than £350,000.
Play areas at Callowland Recreation Ground, Leavesden Green Recreation Ground and Woodside Playing Fields will all receive new playgrounds equipment and safety surfacing.
Watford Borough Council will contribute approximately £215,000 to the cost of the works, while an additional £156,000 will come from the Department for Children, Schools and Families Playbuilder fund managed by Hertfordshire County Council.
Mayor Dorothy Thornhill said: “In the regular surveys we carry out, parks and playgrounds always feature as a priority for residents. It is always good news when we can get additional funding to do even more work on our playgrounds.”
Wicksteed will carry out the works for Callowland, while Proludic has been awarded the contract for Leavesden Green. Work is set to be completed by the end of March this year.
Woodside playground will be refurbished by the end of March 2011.
Consultations were held with local school children, children’s centres and children with disabilities to find out what they wanted for the playgrounds.
New equipment at Callowland includes toddler swings, a cable runway, basket swing, climbing units, dish roundabout, toddler roundabout, mizzenmast (rope climber) and natural play features such as boulders, mounds and logs which make up an adventure trail.
Leavesden Green’s refurbished playground will include toddler swings, junior swings, a small cable runway, sandpit, basket swing, spinning dish roundabout, an Altima climbing mast, rodeo board, trampoline and natural play features.
I hope money will be spent wisely, like buying right playground equipment and playground safety surfacingas you would find, the USA President Obama choose for the first family White House playground.
Playground safety is a major concern for any parent or caregiver. It has to be noted that even minor injuries at play can lead to fatal situations. Over the years rubber mulch has gained much popularity owing to its safety benefits. It is a proven fact that a playground with rubber mulch has more shock absorbing power than a playground with sand. 
Do you want to have a secure 
Every kid enjoys time in the playground and back yard. Every parent is worried about the safety of their child in the 
Are you worried about the safety in your playground or back yard? Rubber mulch can help a lot in securing the 
Do you have kids at home? Are you always worried about their safety in the 
