When visiting homes or schools for special children, there is often interesting equipment and apparatus meant to help the children develop. One thing that is universal is rubber mulch flooring in their playgrounds. The reason that rubber mulch is so popular in these areas is because the tire mulch has an extra spring, absorbing the impact from falls and preventing injuries. Children who are uncoordinated and stumble easily are protected with rubber mulch flooring.

While rubber mulch is especially necessary in schools for special children, it can be a safety feature in any home. Even the most coordinated and athletic child can stumble when running and hurt themselves. Rubber mulch should be a main consideration for private and commercial playgrounds.

Schools for special children combine a variety of recycled rubber products for the ultimate in playground safety. The playgrounds are floored in either rubber mulch chips that are surrounded by rubber curbs, or are paved with Playsafer rubber bond. In the case of special children, rubber bond is often the better choice because there are no particles to be thrown around or trip over. The rubber bond is created by spreading a thick layer of Playsafer rubber mulch chips that is then covered with a layer of rubber that is combined with a high quality polyurethane bond. The result is a floor that is soft and springy, yet smooth and sleek.

Another important component of a safe playground are rubber wearmats in areas of high impact. The mats are simply for added absorption at the bottoms of slides or other areas where children tend to land with impact.

While these safety precautions are considered a necessity for special children, they can also help the average child play more easily, and with less risk. Consider a variety of Rubberecycle rubber mulch products for your playground.

A committee of donors has shown the importance of rubber mulch in playgrounds for child safety. In the last eighteen months, the group has raised fifty thousand dollars for a new piece of playground equipment in Memorial Park, in Hillsboro, New Jersey. The elaborate three tiered structure features a climbing wall, twisting tube slide, shorter open slide, and other exciting features. Most important is the landing zone around the structure, which uses soft and shock absorbent rubber mulch, as opposed to the previously used sand. Although this has been a great accomplishment, the volunteers are hoping to raise money for another piece of new equipment, and rubber mulch landing pads around the older structures.

Rubber mulch is rising as the latest and greatest in playground safety. It comes in the form of rubber chips, rubber curbs, and rubber wear mats for high impact areas. The playground surface is soft and spongy, preventing injuries, and facilitating children’s play. Playsafer rubber mulch comes in many colors for a cheerful look, and leaves no residue, resulting in clean children. Although it is a costly expenditure, rubber flooring for playgrounds pays itself off quickly, as it requires no maintenance or replenishing for years.

Memorial Park in Hillsboro is just one commercial playground among many that is recognizing the benefits of rubber mulch, both financially, and for the safety of children.

The Metro West Daily News reported this morning that starting this week, students at Warren School in Ashland will not be able to enjoy the brisk autumn air during recess because the playground was closed Friday. This came after playgrounds around the district were inspected last week, and Warren School’s did not uphold basic standards of playground safety.

Melanie Lewis, a parent of two Warren School students, confirmed this. She said that children on the playground were swinging a 12-foot metal chain last week after the end came free from rotten wood. Officials inspecting the playground found cracking and rotting in many areas, as well as a hole in the slide. Parents testify that they have to watch their children extra carefully when the play in the playground after soccer games. It was a disaster waiting to happen.

It is unfortunate that the playground is closed, but this situation is one familiar to many schools, where no action is taken until it is too late. Playground safety is of upmost importance. In many commercial playgrounds and schools, the playground equipment is sadly out of date and falling apart, but schools choose to spend on textbooks and other education related supplies, rather than the playground.

Many of the schools that are vigilant about their playgrounds are choosing rubber mulch for the playground surface. This innovative new flooring provides the highest standards of playground safety, with extra shock absorbency. It also comes in all colors for a look that is pleasing to the eye.

Playground equipment does not have to be fancy, but it must be safe. Rubber mulch is just that, as well as economically smart because the mulch does not weather or disintegrate, needing minimal maintenance. School superintendents and principals have a responsibility to ensure that their playgrounds are safe in every way.

In a turbulent economy, there is little room for extra government funding and programs. One area that is still receiving grants and assistance is playgrounds and educational play for children. Free time and safe places for children to play are integral to their childhood. The town of Mount Airy is one recipient of such funding, with an extensive expansion of their playground and rec room.

Councilmen and State Senators of Mount Airy have worked hard to raise the funding necessary for a project of this magnitude, and an estimated three million dollars has been raised. The park will be extended, with a new rec room and a spray park. The park should be completed by next year.

Many communities are seeing the necessity for renovations of parks such as that being done in Mount Airy. A necessary factor in the construction of any park or commercial playground is playground safety. Equipment must be well made and safe for kids, with good, strong lighting to prevent vandalism at night. An integral part of any safe park is a good playground surface.

Children tend to jump from places they shouldn’t, and generally do things that have the potential to cause injury. Studies have shown that rubber mulch flooring is the safest option in playground flooring, due to its superior shock absorbency. In fact, the White House playground is home to Playsafer rubber mulch by Rubberecycle. Playsafer rubber mulch comes in various forms to satisfy different needs. There are rubber wearmats that are placed in high impact areas for extra cushioning. The standard flooring comes in the form of rubber chips and bonded rubber flooring. Rubberecycle also offers rubber curbs to cordon off parts of the playground.

Any community that is considering costly renovations of playgrounds and parks must consider rubber mulch flooring as the safest option for kids.

For most people, summer is a time of vacation and relaxation, but for thousands of families each year, it can be a time of medical strife. The National Safe Kids campaign reports that one in four kids ages fourteen and younger sustain medical injuries during the summer that require medical attention. They have also found that forty percent of all injury related emergency room visits, and forty-two percent of all injury deaths happen between the months of May and August. The statistics are chilling, and a frightening wake up call for parents everywhere. There are easy ways to help prevent the principle causes of injuries to children.

Playground Flooring
Is your playground really as safe as you’d like it to be? Studies have shown that rubber mulch is the safest playground flooring on the market. Rubber mulch looks like wood chips, but is made out of recycled rubber, providing an alternative that is friendly to kids and to the environment. The flooring has shock absorbing properties that help prevent injuries in children. Rubber mulch in your neighborhood playground can be the difference between sprained wrists or merely bruises. Check with your neighborhood parks department that the parks and playgrounds in your area are equipped with rubber mulch.

Keep Them Hydrated
Kids are often very busy having a good time, and forget mundane details such as meals and drinks. It is vital to keep your children hydrated with water, especially during long periods outdoors and at the pool. Dehydration is a leading cause of emergency room visits for children, as their small bodies retain less water than adults, and they can rapidly dehydrate to dangerous levels.

Helmets
Whether it’s on a scooter, bike, roller blades, or the like, a helmet is vital. Helmets can be the difference between life and death. Dusk is a particularly dangerous time, as drivers have lower visibility, and may not see a child before it’s too late. Make sure that your kids don’t leave the driveway without a helmet on.

Write to your local officials to ensure that rubber mulch is used in community playgrounds, and keep a large stock of water on hand at all times. Make sure that your kids’ helmets fit well, and are in good condition. Keep your summer experience happy and healthy with the necessary safety guidelines in place.

In the news, especially in the US recently, there has been a lot of worry about artificial surfaces and the problems they can cause, with dust particles being inhaled by people and children who are playing on them. Some parents will not even let their children go anywhere near these synthetic areas.

The thing is that when you look at a surface which has fake grass, then that is the problem more than anything else, also what feels like normal dirt, is actually very fine pieces of rubber, that have also been treated with something, to probably make it last longer.

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