University of Wisconsin - Extension

July and August are the height of the summer season. Many children spend hours each day outside, where local parks and backyard swingsets are often a gathering place.

Young children need to be taught how to play safely on playground equipment, and need constant supervision during outdoor play, says Joan LeFebvre, University of Wisconsin- Extension family living agent for Vilas, Forest and Florence counties.

"Each year, more than 100,000 injuries occur on playground equipment that result in hospital emergency room treatment, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission," LeFebvre says.

"Young children can't anticipate danger, so parents and other caregivers need to take precautions and spend some time teaching play habits that will decrease the risk of injury."

Children should learn to sit in the center of swings, and should avoid standing or kneeling on swings. Young children also need to learn how to avoid walking in front or in back of moving swings, and not to push empty seats, which could strike another child. If you are purchasing a backyard swingset, avoid swings with hard, heavy seats that can hit a child in the head. Many swings now come with plastic encasing the chains, to avoid pinched fingers.

While children may like to experiment, LeFebvre says it is important that children use the steps on slides, rather than trying to climb up the surface. And children should always go down slides feet first and sitting up.

Climbing equipment also can cause injuries, especially if children fall onto a hard surface. If you are installing your own climbing equipment, make sure it is on a soft surface, such as wood chips or grass. Children also need to learn how to tightly grip equipment when climbing, and should avoid pushing, shoving or fighting while using play equipment.

One of the most dangerous summer-time play items is also one of the most common- small swimming pools. Whenever your child uses a pool, have constant adult supervision.

"Most families have wading pools, but even small pools with just a few inches of water can be extremely dangerous," LeFebvre says. "Children can lose their footing and drown in a very small amount of water."

LeFebvre says small pools should always be emptied when not in use. Larger pools should be fenced in, with a gate that is locked when the pool is not in use.