Kids like to play a lot. When they are playing outdoors, the parents’ main concern is their kids’ safety as maximum injuries the kid suffers are because of  accidents in Playgrounds. It is quite natural for kids to forget to follow safety rules while playing. The end result is injuries, sometimes minor, sometimes major. However you can avoid serious injuries by enhancing playground safety and adding safe playground equipments in the kids’ play areas.

Rubber mulch plays very important role in playground safety. Rubber mulch is made from recycled rubber. It can be used for covering the kids’ play area. Main advantage of placing rubber mulch on the playgrounds is that even if the kids fall down from any playground equipments, they will not get severe injuries. Rubber mulch acts as cushion and protects kids from getting injuries.

Getting dirty while playing is part and parcel of outdoor games specifically when the playground is covered with grass and dirt. However, if the play area is covered with rubber mulch your kids can enjoy their play time without spoiling their cloths or getting serious injuries.

Rubber mulch is durable. It cannot be washed away in heavy rains nor can it blow away in the storm. Another benefit of rubber mulch is that it does not catch dust. It will be a perfect protection for your kids while they are in the play area.

Rubber mulch comes in different colors. You can cover your backyard with your kids’ favorite color.

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.

As quoted via the EPA:

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.

Rubber mulches are manufactured from tires through a series of process. It proves to be the ideal material to use in playground surfacing. It acts as a shock proof material which reduces the rate of injuries. The athletes and kids need not be worried about injuries and can concentrate on the games. They are available at affordable cost. The cost might vary from $4.20 – $4.35 per square foot and they are 100% safe and metal free. They ensure a play safe surfacing area and drain rain water quickly. They cushion the impact of severe falls and shield the players from injuries. They are easy to maintain and have a strong physical bonding. It can be applied to any kind of weather conditions.

v    The surfacing material can be chosen from a wide spectrum of colors.

v    They are highly recommended by various organizations that minimizes the environmental damages.

v    They are clean and easy to maintain. They are odor free and reduce mud and dirt in the play area.

v    They do not decompose and never give out the rotten smell.

v    Rubberecycle mulch is  non toxic and non-staining.

We here in the USA are well aware of the importance of playgrounds for our children. It represents a safe haven where they can let their imaginations take them into their own private world. In addition, we adults know how beneficial it is for their physical and emotional health; an opportunity to run around and get vital exercise, while at the same time releasing any built-up tensions. It is interesting to note that even in Afghanistan, they are well aware of the importance of playgrounds for kids. Here is an article that appeared in Playground Magazine.

Special Forces Build Playgrounds To Promote Peace In Kandahar Province

By Sgt. Debra Richardson

Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan Public Affairs

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – For a war-torn nation, the concept of childhood and innocent play was thought to be all but forgotten. The trash littered roads and dilapidated housing are a common site in the Panjwayee District.

Barefoot and scantily clothed, the poverty stricken children in Kandahar province find entertainment with sticks and abandoned trash and too often, become the victims of roadside accidents. While the construction of school houses is becoming more frequent throughout southern Afghanistan, the children are all too often left to their own devices. But for one small village, the recent completion of a fenced playground offers a safe place to reinvent the custom of play.

High-pitched screams and excited laughter are heard as nearly thirty children scramble to the newly completed playground a mere one hundred meters from the village housing. Located between a bazaar and abandoned Russian barracks now used as apartments, the playground is easily accessible for all the local children. As the sun settles, light reflects off the aluminum slide as children mingle with the shadows, reluctant to abandon their newly acquired play space. Children of all ages appear night after night, when chores are complete, to escape into a world of imagination. This area is theirs alone; a place free of broken glass, insurgents and bombs.

“We built this playground to promote security for the children,” explains a civil affairs captain overseeing the project. “The village has a school but lacked a safe environment for children to play and socialize. The children need this area for developmental progression. The advent of a playground provides one of the most effective methods to enhance their standard of living while simultaneously decreasing their association with insurgents or insurgent activity.”

“The village elders closely monitor the playground and the local Afghan national army routinely patrols the area,” remarks the captain. “The ANA also ensure the safety of the children by inspecting the playground before the children are released from school for the day. This prevents the emplacement of explosive devices.”

The playground, consisting of swing sets, monkey bars, a seesaw and a slide, will one day also attract older villagers. Special Forces have planted fifty trees and will soon deliver multiple wooden benches. Upon completion, the playground will have evolved into a park, offering shelter from the piercing sun and a safe haven for all ages.

Source: http://www.todaysplayground.com/news/display.cfm?ID=1794&category=news

Playground is an essential place for the child to achieve overall development. It provides fun, fresh air and exercise. However, it can also turn out to be a threat to the safety of children. Faulty equipments, improper surfaces and careless behavior are just a few to mention. Every year many kids get hospitalized due to playground related injuries. The fact is that many of these could have been averted with proper supervision and care. At the same time it is important to teach the kids how to play safely.

It is a fact that performing equipment and surfacing maintenance upgrades can greatly contribute to playground safety. It is essential to have certified playground surfacing, like installing engineered wood fiber, rubber mulch etc beneath and around the equipments to minimize impact injuries from falls. Apart from this playground equipment should be installed properly for the safety of children.

Proper installation also includes giving signs regarding the age-appropriateness of the equipments. After installing the equipment and surfacing it is advisable to get a safety audit done by an authorized person prior to use. Above all, proper maintenance is one of the most important aspects if playground safety. Equipments and surfacing have to be checked periodically to see if there are any damages. If regular inspections and replacement processes are in place you can reduce the hazards in playground. If you are looking for more information then feel free to visit rubberrecycle.com

Till recently, there was a spurt in the number of playground related accidents and fatalities. Even though several playground safety features are incorporated in our playgrounds to make them safer to play on, the hard and unprotected ground proved to be spoilsports to many of us. Falls frequently occur during the course of play and as such, thousands used to get injured or crippled from falls.

But the emergence of playground mulch has changed the scenario for the better. It is an eco-friendly product, unlike many people professes, and is durable and efficient. Rubber mulch is obtained after cleaning used rubber tire treads and granulating them. If spread well in sufficient quantities, it can act as a cushion even if the fall is very heavy and disruptive.

The material is highly reliable since it remains intact even after many years. Pests and weeds cannot destroy it, unlike other mulches. Once installed, you need not worry about replacing and maintaining it. Even heavy rains and winds cannot dislodge it. In addition, colored rubber mulch improves the attractiveness of the playground. This is why people consider playground safety and rubber mulch as blood-brothers. Government authorities are also promoting extensive use of rubber mulch in playgrounds as a safety measure.

Rubberecycle manufacturers mulch, which is obtained from used tire treads, is gained widespread acceptance across the country due to a variety of factors.  It is cheaper than conventional mulches, easily obtainable, durable and resistant to pests and elements of nature.  Let us examine its positive aspects and some of the latest derivatives available in the market.

Used tire accumulation can become environmental issue, but with the invention of rubber mulch has helped reduce the menace by a great extent.  The crumbs obtained were treated and then used for gardening and agricultural uses.  But recently, we have discovered that it can be used for other purposes too.

It was observed that playground related accidents were taking a heavy toll on children and grownups alike.  Falling during boisterous play often resulted in fatalities.  But the advent of playground mulch has reduced this problem.  The mulch functions as a rubber cushion and prevents children getting hurt in  playgrounds.

Therefore, more and more people are getting their playgrounds cushioned by this ubiquitous material.  In addition to acting as a featherbed, it can prevent growth of weeds, pests etc too.  Colored playground mulch can add to the beauty of the environs too.

Rubber mulch from rubbecycle, an eco friendly product made from used tires. This product is readily available in granular form in different colors and is often used in playgrounds and garden areas. Let’s find out how beneficial this product is.

• Environmental advantages – The discovery of rubber mulch has lead to the recycling of rubber tires which otherwise would have resulted in environmental issue.

• Availability – This product could be bought and delivered at any of the following locations.

• Benefits over other mulches – It’s a fact that some of the organic mulches like pine needles etc tend to decompose fast, leaving back a very nasty smell. They often block the water drainage system after their decay thereby making the atmosphere muddy. On the other hand, rubber mulch facilitates easy draining system of water. It also stops the evaporation of subsoil moisture, thereby retaining useful nutrients.

•Everlasting advantages to a gardener – Rubber mulch prevents the weeds from growing. It stops the pests from spreading. This material does not decay and can withstand rain, wind etc.

• How to purchase -You can place an order for rubberecycle mulch material via web page at http://www.rubberecycle.com/  or by phone 1888-436-6846. The mulch products get delivered to you within 7 business days, depending upon the geographical location. 

Parents are extremely concerned about the safety features of the play ground area. There can be fatal accidents happening when children play very enthusiastically. It is the property of the surface material to determine the level of injury sustained. Rubber mulches play a vital role in safeguarding the interests of the children and other players using it. The cushioned surface will absorb all the shock leaving no injuries to the people use it. A playground cannot be safe more than having rubber mulch on its surface.

Rubber mulches are prepared by the recycling methods employed in tire industries. They do not harm the environment in any way. People can employ these rubber mulches on the ground surfaces for about 20 to 25 years and can still send it to the factory for recycling. It is highly advised to have a detailed look on the components employed in the manufacturing of the rubber mulch. The playgrounds can obtain a superior look and feel with the improvement in the durability of the material. The players can have the peace of mind during the hard core practice sessions. Added to the credibility, White House has come forward in favor of the usage of rubber mulches. The First Lady of United States of America has expressed her willingness to employ rubber mulch on the playground and have praised the safety features of this product. She is very happy to know that her kids are secured while playing on the grounds where rubber mulch is employed.