SAFETY IN PLAYGROUNDS

Today, where the street play culture in the past has been replaced by technological games, playgrounds have gained utmost importance and have become the safest places where children can freely experience their own motor skills. However, ensuring that the child plays safely and eliminating the risks of serious injury is the sole task of playground builders and planners. 
There are certain important elements that need to be paid attention to in order to provide a safe playing environment in the playground.
 

Safety is primary importance in playgrounds. When designing a playground, it should be
ensured that the playground and the equipments used comply with current safety
standards. In our country and in Europe, the directives for the safety of playground
equipment are framed by the European Standards EN 1176 certificates. These directives set
out the rules and requirements that must be met by playground manufacturers. The
playground equipments must be manufactured and installed in accordance with these
norms. Products that do not have these certificates cannot be evaluated in the safe category
and contain risks. Therefore, these standards are a guarantee that the equipment installed in
playgrounds is safe.

The floor of the playground should be covered with various materials that will absorb the
shocks during falls. Otherwise, injuries and accidents are inevitable even in simple falls and
planned jumps. European Standards EN 1177 set the standards for playground surfaces, and
floor arrangement in accordance with these standards will significantly prevent accidents
with injuries.

Warning boards that provide information about the use of playground equipments such as
supervision by parents and caregivers, user age range, general playground usage rules
should be located in the playground areas and positioned so that users or parents can easily
read them.

The required safety distances in the playground are determined according to the type of
game equipment and the height of the fall. A larger safety surface is required, as the higher

the gaming equipment, the higher the risk of skidding. The same applies to play equipment
that includes movement, such as swings and slides. The directives regarding the safety
distances of the equipment used in the playgrounds are clearly defined by the European
Standards EN 1176. Side products such as garbage cans, lighting poles, benches should not
be placed within the safety distances.

Especially in the playgrounds located in the neighborhood and adjacent to the vehicle paths,
simple but useful maze passages that will prevent the user from running out of the
playground entrances and exits are added to prevent children from running out of the
vehicle path.

Product maintenance is an important part of safety in playgrounds. Malfunctions and errors
caused by user or vandalism may occur in established playgrounds over time. Close
monitoring and repair of these malfunctions will prevent possible accidents.

HOW TO DESIGN A PLAYGROUND

Play is the only work of children. Well-designed playgrounds are the most important socializing areas that bring children and families together. Designing a playground that will serve the environment and children well requires careful planning. There are some criteria that should be taken into account when making this planning. We would like to share the most important of these criteria.

The development processes of children are very diverse. The fact that the product selection in the planned park includes equipment covering all of these types of development will increase the function and efficiency of the playground. Physical Development; Mobile and physical strength-based games in the playground encourage the user to actively use their body. It forces the development of balance and motor skills. This condition is vital for the development of a child. It is the type of development on which playground equipment designed based on body movement is based. Social and Emotional Development; Children communicate with other children while playing in the playground, form a team with them, cooperate or become competitors. All of these teaches them to manage their emotions. It contributes to their socialization. It increases their communication capacity and empathy abilities. Cognitive Development; In child playgrounds, children's cognitive development is provided with playpen equipment designed to activate their cognitive depths such as thinking, bonding, processing, problem solving.

Playground’s compatibility with it’s environment is at least asimportant as the functions of the playground. For example, metal slides that trap heat easily are not recommended for use in areas with an average high temperature. In regions where vandalism and misuse are common, products that will keep user destruction to a minimum should be preferred. If the area or neighborhood where the playground is planned has an architecture specific to that area, the park project associated with that architecture may be preferred.

It should be ensured that the areas where the user will be isolated from the outside should be minimized as much as possible in playground equipment. The playground and the equipment it contains should be conveniently visible from the floor of the playground. This case significantly prevents vandalism. The playground should be designed in such a way that the parent who is waiting for his child can comfortably keep his child under supervision and not prevent him from reaching him in an emergency.

It should be noted that vandalism that may occur in the playground at nightfall can be eliminated with simple lightings. This will extend the service life of the park. And it will provide the usage time of the park during the day.

The application of a absorder floor with damping properties to meet the needs according to the products contained in the planned playground will significantly reduce the risk of injury even in simple and even serious accidents.

The use of security cameras in various parts of the park will be a factor that ensures the safety of children and parents and prevents the misuse of the playground.

The opinions of children and their parents who are the end users of the parks may be asked by visiting nearby parks and playgrounds.

The creation of waiting and resting areas where parents can observe their children in various parts of the playground will both prevent parents from waiting inside the playground and increase the time spent in the park by reducing parental fatigue.

Visiting the production facilities of the park's manufacturers is important in terms of determining the importance that the company attaches to its business. The fact that all the components that will make up the playground are produced by the same company means that all the components that will make up the playground meet at a common quality denominator. This will eliminate any incompatibilities that may occur during assembly. It will create a high added value in the product and therefore in the playgrounds and fitness parks.