Keeping Your Kids Safe On The Playground

Appeared in REDBOOK:

"Most parents focus on preventing falls and minimizing injury from falls, but they should know that strangulation accounts for half of playground deaths," says Curtis Stoddard, a veteran playground contractor who has created a safety program for kids at playgroundhound.com. Here's how he says kids and parents can stay safe:

• Make sure your child never wears clothes with drawstrings or other cords at the playground, and have him tuck in all clothing; the drawstrings and clothing can get caught on equipment.
• Have your child remove his bicycle helmet before using playground equipment, since a helmet can get stuck on equipment and strangle a child.
• Make sure your child does not tie jump ropes or other ropes to slides or other playground equipment.