July 16, 2001

Church playgrounds need careful design and safety as well
___By Linda Lawson
___LifeWay Christian Resources
___NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--While it is impossible to prevent all accidents on a playground, church leaders must give priority to safety in designing, building and maintaining grounds and equipment, according to a Texas playground architect.
___Jim Dempsey, a partner in Grounds for Play of Mansfield, led a session during the first Church Expo sponsored by LifeWay Christian Stores in Nashville.
___Every year, about 200,000 children are injured seriously enough on playgrounds to be hospitalized or treated by a doctor. About 15 children die each year from playground injuries, Dempsey said. The most serious injuries are caused when children get their heads trapped in a piece of equipment, an item of clothing gets caught on equipment during a fall or a child hits a protruding piece such as a bolt.
___"We're never going to prevent all injuries on a playground," said Dempsey, who served on a committee that in 1991 developed national playground guidelines. "But we must do all we can to prevent serious injuries."
___A former teacher and a certified playground safety inspector, Dempsey emphasized that people of all ages learn by doing and "play is what children do. We study children's play and have great respect for the value of play. Outdoors is the friendliest environment for play."
___As churches work with architects and equipment companies to design playgrounds, priority should be given to play surfaces, he advised. Approximately 60 percent of injuries are caused by falls.
___Dempsey warned against use of asphalt, concrete or grass, favoring instead poured rubber or engineered wood fiber--both more flexible and able to absorb the energy of a fall. Grass wears down and then the ground becomes hard and compacted, he explained.
___Also, equipment must be placed with a six-foot fall zone around it. While Dempsey personally favors the use of swings on a playground, he noted that they take up a lot of space and should be placed in a corner to minimize the likelihood that children will run in front of the swings. He urged the use of resilient materials such as plastic for seats rather than wood.
___Safety guidelines require that no more than two swings be placed in a bay, the space between uprights.
___All elevated surfaces should be surrounded by rails. Hand grips should be sized for the age and height of children who will be using the equipment. And the playground area should be completely visible to workers.
___Instead of designing their own playgrounds, Dempsey suggested churches work with a reputable company on the design. As a cost-saving measure, he noted that some companies will provide a supervisor to work with church members in building or setting up the equipment themselves.
___"The right way to install equipment is as important as the design and purchase of the equipment," he said.
___For churches to protect themselves, he suggested surrounding playgrounds with 6-foot fences and posting signs specifying the age group for which the equipment is designed and stating the playground is not to be used without adult supervision.
___Also, he suggested use of a frequent inspection form which Sunday School teachers or daycare workers are asked to fill out at least weekly. Any problems should be fixed immediately, with repairs documented.
___"You are safer (from lawsuits) if you have proof of maintenance," Dempsey said. He also suggested routine replacement of moving parts such as "S" hooks on swings.
___In addition to traditional playground equipment, he urged providing large blocks or other items that can be moved around and used in building. Items for dramatic, imaginative play also should be included, he said.
___While churches are not required to provide playgrounds that are accessible for the physically handicapped, Dempsey urged doing so.
___"When you create a playground, you should build accessibility in. It's the right thing to do," he said.

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