Injury Prevention & Safety

Child Safety

At Play

Overview | Playground safety | Bike and other wheeled recreation | Other recreation

Playground safety

In Canada, an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 children are treated in hospital emergency departments every year for injuries sustained on a playground. Falls account for nearly 75% of these injuries.

Five to nine year olds are the age group most commonly injured on public playgrounds, likely because they are physically able to play at greater heights, but also lack a sense of danger. One to four year olds are the age group most likely to be injured on play equipment at home.

The main factors involved in increasing the safety of a playground are safe equipment, safe surfacing, and active supervision.

Safe equipment

Children need different types of equipment depending on their age and development. Examples of safe equipment for preschool age children (18 months – 5 years) include easy climbers, low stairs and platforms, and small tunnels. Examples of safe equipment for school-age children (5-12 years old) include track gliders, sliding poles, and chain and net climbers.

Safe playground equipment is in good condition and is free of hazards that may cause strangulation, entrapment, falls, or other injuries. You can Take the Playground Safety YES Test to conduct a simple assessment of an outdoor playground.

In Calgary, public playgrounds must meet current safety standards for equipment as outlined by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA).

Safe surfacing

Safe playground surfaces include loose fill materials like gravel, natural rock, sand, wood mulch, engineered wood fibre, and rubber crumb, as well as unitary manufactured materials like rubber tiles and pour-in-place. Grass and dirt are not safe surfaces.

Safe surfacing materials can cushion a fall if they are installed at sufficient depth; this depends on the resiliency of the surface material and the height of the playground equipment at its highest point. In Calgary, public playgrounds must meet current safety standards for surfacing as outlined by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA).

You can learn more about safe surfacing materials by visiting the Soft Landings Demonstration Site at North Glenmore Park (located adjacent to parking lots I and M).

Active supervision

Active supervision by responsible adults helps to keep playgrounds safe. Stay close enough that you can take action if needed. Stay alert, pay close attention, and anticipate hazards. Encourage children to use playground equipment that fits their age and stage of development. Teach them to play safely.

Remember that children at the playground need to be dressed for safe play! They should have appropriate footwear and long hair should be tied back. They should not wear helmets, clothes with drawstrings, scarves, or loose clothing.

Want to know more?

Playground Falls in the Calgary Health Region

Playground Project Manual for Volunteer Groups

Take the Playground Safety YES Test

Kids don't bounce!