playground safety

BCI Burke Plays Up Safety with Evans School

Partners in Education better playground experiences with knowledge

FOND DU LAC, Wisc. (April 25, 2011)---BCI Burke and Evans Elementary school are working together to raise awareness of playground safety to celebrate National Playground Safety Week, April 25-29. As part of the Fond du Lac School District’s Partners in Education (PIE) Program, Burke is leading the awareness project in which Evans students created posters about playground safety.

“Playgrounds are a compelling and fun attraction for kids of all ages,” said Tim Ahern, BCI Burke owner/CEO. “Unfortunately, each year over 200,000 children are seriously injured on America’s playgrounds, according to the National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS) and we are focused on helping kids and adults be more aware of the safest way to play and the best way to supervise kids,” Ahern added.

The student’s efforts have been showcased on a dedicated page created on the BCI Burke website. The posters  focus on awareness and guidelines while on playgrounds.

"BCI Burke has been a wonderful business partner for Evans School. The fact that they manufactured the outdoor play structures that the students use and enjoy every day makes the partnership even more meaningful,” said Jim Botting, Evans Principal.

Education is the first step towards helping school children and families reduce injury statistics and make visits to the playground safer. Important tips to be aware of include:

• Due to the differing capabilities and needs of children, a play area should be provided for pre-schoolers, ages 2-5 as well as a separate play area for children ages 5-12. Be sure children play on equipment designated for their age.
• It is vital to use surfacing around play structures. Options include but are not limited to pea gravel, engineered wood fiber, rubber, sand, rubber tiles or synthetic grass. It is best to consult with a certified playground installer or your playground manufacturer to ensure all safety guidelines are followed.
• Be aware of openings on playgrounds — they should measure less than 3.5 inches or more than 9 inches to prevent strangulation and trapping a child at play.
• Make sure debris and litter is cleaned up promptly to prevent a tripping hazard as well as a health issue.
• Look for safety signs on playgrounds that help inform parents and other supervisors which structures are appropriate for the age of the children in their care and remind them about adult supervision requirements.
• Always supervise children at play. A majority of injuries occur on playgrounds because children are not being monitored by adults.
• Be on the lookout for broken parts, rust, protruding hardware, sharp edges or other areas of disrepair.
• Choose a cooler part of the day to play, if possible. Be sure to apply sunscreen to protect children’s delicate skin.
• Interact with children at play. They take great pride in showing adults what they can do. And, this allows for better attention to safety.

To further their commitment to safety, BCI Burke is the only playground manufacturer to partner with the National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS) and provide a free Safe Playground Supervision Kit with each play system purchased.

For more information about playground safety or Burke products visit www.bciburke.com.