Playground Safety Manual

Playground Safety Manual Health & Life Skills K 3

Table of Contents Introduction... 3 Linking to the Alberta Elementary Curriculum... 4 Lesson Plan... 5 Quiz... 13 Student Information... 15 Clothing Safety Info Sheet... 16 Playground Safety Certificate... 18 Playground Safety Checklist... 19 Playground Safety YES Test ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 21 Playgrounds Danger of Strangulation Info sheet... 23 Practicing the Letter P Activity Sheet... 24 School Safety Info Sheet... 25 Information Sources... 27 2

Welcome to the Playground Safety Manual We are pleased to provide this manual free of charge to schools and community agencies. This manual was created to provide educators with the information and resources to teach children safe behavior in the playground. Included in this manual are lesson plans, quizzes, and student information sheets. The Playground Safety Manual complements Alberta Education's Program of Studies for Health and Life Skills for Kindergarten through Grade 3. There are no time restrictions on the lessons, which provides the educator with the opportunity to adapt all or portions of the lesson he/she feels best suits his/her groups needs. 3

Linking Playground Safety to the Alberta Elementary Curriculum The aim of the Health and Life Skills Program of Studies is to enable students to make well-informed, healthy choices and to develop behaviours that contribute to the well-being of self and others. The Playground Safety Manual was developed to complement Alberta Education s Program of Studies for Health and Life Skills, Kindergarten to Grade 3. Following is a list of general and specific outcomes the resource kit was designed to support. Learner Outcomes: WELLNESS CHOICES General Outcome Students will make responsible and informed choices to maintain health and to promote safety for self and others. Safety and Responsibility: W - K.7 W - K.9 identify unsafe situations, and identify safety rules for protection describe and observe safety rules in the home and the school W - K.10 describe and demonstrate ways to be safe at home and away from home W - 1.8 W - 1.9 determine reasons for and apply safety rules at home and at school describe and apply appropriate street safety behaviours in the community W - 1.10 recognize community helpers and identify how to seek their help W - 2.7 W - 2.9 W - 3.7 W - 3.8 W - 3.9 identify and develop plans to use when dealing with pressure to engage in behaviour that is uncomfortable or inappropriate describe and apply safety rules when using physical activity equipment identify strategies to avoid being bullied in different case scenarios employ practices that provide safety for self and others describe, apply and analyze appropriate safety behaviours in the local community 4

Lesson Plan Playground Safety Lesson Plan: Make My Time At The Playground Safe! 5

Lesson Plan: MAKE MY TIME AT THE PLAYGROUND SAFE! Objectives: Upon completion of the Lesson Plan, Make My Time At The Playground Safe!, the student will: Identify and describe at least three different types of play equipment in a playground. Understand why, if used incorrectly, this play equipment can be dangerous. Demonstrate how to use playground equipment safely. Educator Background: The Facts about Playground Injury How Serious Is the Problem? Each year in Canada about 2,500 children aged 14 and under must stay in the hospital because they are badly hurt from falls on playgrounds. Deaths from playground injuries are rare. 18 playground deaths have been reported since 1982. 17 of these deaths were the result of strangulation when drawstrings, skipping ropes, scarves, or loose clothing became entangled in playground equipment or fences, or when a child wearing a bike helmet got his or her head trapped in an opening in playground equipment. About 4 out of 5 hospitalizations for playground injuries were the result of broken bones. About 14% are the result of head injuries, while the remaining 5% are for injuries such as dislocations and open wounds. Head injuries are some of the most serious injuries that can occur on the playground. Who Gets Hurt on the Playground? Children ages 5 to 9 have the highest risk of playground injury because: 5 to 9 year olds may have the most exposure to playgrounds, both in their communities and at school. Children 5 to 9 years of age also like to test their limits, which can put them at greater risk for injury. At least 29,000 children younger than 15 years of age receive treatment for playground injuries in hospital emergency departments each year in Canada [1]. Children five to nine years of age have the highest risk of injury, with males injured slightly more often than females (53% versus 47%). Playground injuries occur most often in summer (43%), followed by fall (27%), spring (24%), and winter (6%). Canadian Pediatrics Society, 2012. 6

Additional information: Teach children these rules for playground safety: Have children wear shoes. To prevent strangulation have children do the following: wear clothing without drawstrings or fixed hoods; use mitten clips instead of mitten strings; wear neck warmers instead of scarves; Remove backpacks while on playground equipment. Take off bicycle helmets before using playground equipment. Bicycle helmets can get trapped on equipment and strangle a child. Make sure children do not tie ropes or skipping ropes to slides and other playground equipment. Teach children how to play: wait your turn; no pushing, shoving or tripping; keep ropes and scarves away from playground equipment and fences; keep clear of moving things; hold on with both hands when swinging or climbing; only one person on the slide at a time; slide down feet first and sitting up; don't go up the slide ladder until the other person has gone down the slide; hold on to railings; sit down on swings and slides; keep away from moving swings and the bottom of slides; play only on dry equipment. If it is wet, you could slip and fall; move away from the slide as soon as you reach the ground; guardrails are there to protect you. Don't climb over them. 7

Applicable resources (included in manual): Clothing Safety Info Sheet Take the Playground Safety YES Test Playground Safety certificate Playgrounds Danger of Strangulation Health Canada info sheet Practising the Letter P activity School Safety Info Sheet Notes to Educator: Arrange time for a field trip in the school playground. You may want to invite some parent volunteers to assist. To remove outside distractions from other students, this is best done outside of scheduled recess break(s). After completion of the lesson, distribute the Playground Safety checklist to be used by the children in class or while on the Field Trip to the school playground. After completion of the lesson, distribute student information sheets School Safety, Clothing Safety, Playgrounds Danger of Strangulation, and/or Playground Safety Yes Test, for the students to take home to their parents. After completion of the lesson, distribute signed Playground Safety certificate. After completion of the lesson, distribute Practicing the Letter P activity as a take home assignment. Get Ready: Discuss the different kinds of playground equipment (slide, swing, climbing structures, monkey bars) children might use while playing in the playground, and how to play safely on this equipment, by working through the Step-by-Step Lesson Plan. Encourage brainstorming and discussion whenever possible. (Educator may wish to select a student(s) to document class responses on the board, overhead, or chart paper for future reference). Explore and Apply: Work through activities in the Step by Step Lesson Plan Make My Time At The Playground Safe! Step-by-Step Lesson Plan Make My Time at the Playground Safe! Educator asks: Has anyone in this class ever played in a playground before? Class response: I have, I have! Educator asks: Where were the playgrounds you played in? Class response: At home. At school. In another city when we were on holiday. At my friends house. 8

Educator asks: Playgrounds can be a lot of fun, but did any of you know that if you don t play in the playground safely, you could get hurt? Class response: Yes You can t get hurt in the playground. Really? Educator asks: Can any of you think of ways you could get hurt while playing in the playground? Class response: Bumping your head on a swing. Colliding into your friend when you are coming down the slide. Getting in the way of the swing when my friend is swinging. Swinging too high and falling off the swing. Falling off the monkey bars. Educator asks: Can you think of any safety rules you should follow while playing in the playground? Class response: Wait until it is your turn to go down the slide. Don t push. Watch out for swings when your friends are on them. Educator asks: Great answers class. Let s see if we can think of some more safety rules we should know when playing in the playground. How about? (Depending on the age of the class, educator may use the white board to make a list of these general playground safety rules while discussing with class). Always wear shoes. Wait your turn. Keep clear of moving things (and people). Keep all ropes away from playground equipment and fences. No pushing, shoving or tripping. Make sure you are not wearing anything that could strangle or entangle you: Take off your bike helmet; Remove drawstrings from around your neck; Tuck in ties and loose clothing; Wear a neck warmer instead of a scarf. Educator asks: How many of you have played on a slide? Educator may count the show of hands. Educator asks: Did you know there are some safety rules to follow when you are using the slide? Can anyone think of some things you need to do to safely use the slide? Class response: Use the steps. Keep your eyes open. One person at a time. 9

Educator asks: Great answers class. Let s see if we can think of some more safety rules we should know when sliding down the slide. How about? (Depending on the age of the class, educator may use the white board to make a list of these general playground safety rules while discussing with class). Use the steps. Never climb up the sliding surface or on top of the tunnel. Make sure everyone is out of the way before sliding. Slide down feet first, sitting up, one person at a time. Educator asks: So, we ve learned how to safely use the slide. Let s talk about how to use the swings safely. How many of you use the swings? Educator may count the show of hands. Educator asks: Did you know there are some safety rules to follow when you are using the swing? Can anyone think of some things you need to do to safely use the swing? Class response: Hold on tight. Keep your eyes open. Educator asks: Great answers class. Let s see if we can think of some more safety rules we should know when swinging on the swing. How about? (Depending on the age of the class, educator may use the white board to make a list of these general playground safety rules while discussing with class). Sit in the centre of the seat, never stand or kneel and hold on with both hands. Stop the swing before getting off. One person on a swing at a time. Stay away from the front and back of moving swings. Educator asks: So, we ve learned some general playground safety rules, how to safely use the slide and swings, can anyone think about another piece of equipment that you might use while playing in the playground? Class response: Monkey bars! Educator asks: Monkey bars, yes, let s learn how to safely use the monkey bars or any other equipment you might be climbing on. Can anyone think of some things you need to do to safely when you are using the monkey bars or any other piece of climbing equipment? Class response: Hold on tight. Don t swing back and forth too fast. Don t fall off and hurt yourself. Educator asks: Great answers class. Let s see if we can think of some more safety rules we should know when using the monkey bars or other climbing structures. How about? (Depending on the age of the class, educator may use the white board to make a list of these general playground safety rules while discussing with class). Grip bars with the thumb opposite the fingers, encircling each bar. Hold on with both hands except when moving to a new bar. When a group of children are playing on horizontal bars, start at the same end and move in the same direction. Watch out for swinging feet. To drop, land on the feet with knees slightly bent. 10

Class Activity: Using the Playground Safety Checklist, the educator may choose to take the class on a field trip outside to the school/local playground. Educator may select volunteers from the class to demonstrate how to safely use each piece of equipment on the checklist. The class may then be divided into small groups to practice on their own. Educator (parent helpers) may then go around to each small group and using the checklist, confirm that each child can demonstrate safe use of the play equipment. Once the children can demonstrate that they know how to safely play in the playground, distribute the signed Playground Safety certificate. Send this home along with the completed Playground Safety checklist as well as any applicable student information sheets. Additional Class Activities: Hand out Practicing the letter P as a take home activity. Draw a safe playground! Educator may ask students to create posters for a display in the hall demonstrating a safe playground. Assign 2 students during each recess break to be a playground monitor. They may assist the teacher on supervision with teaching their fellow students how to play safe in the playground. This could be used as a reward for a job well done during other classroom activities. Make a Playground Safety Book by assigning different playground safety rules to each student in the class and having them draw a picture and/or writing the rule on the page (some grades will require assistance from the teacher). Role Play - create scenarios in which the students role-play one or more of the following situations (or they may choose to create one of their own). Scenario #1 You are playing in the playground with your friend and see someone not wearing shoes. What would you do? Scenario #2 You see someone in the playground and they are wearing their helmet. What would you do? Scenario #3 You see one of your friends climbing up the slide and they are wearing a coat that has drawstrings. What would you do? Scenario #4 You are on the monkey bars with your friends and you are all going across in one direction. You notice that another friend starts climbing the monkey bars from the other direction. What would you do? Scenario #5 You see one of your friends sliding down the slide, face first. What would you do? Design a PowerPoint Presentation that supports the scenarios presented in class or with photos of students in the class observing different kinds of playground safety rules. 11

Have the students write a small script in which they act out/present their scenario(s) to the class. Design a poster/comic strip that goes with one of the scenarios presented in class; post it in the classroom or in the school or community newspaper. Please note: Some of the resources contained in this playground safety manual may not be suitable for all age groups. Please adapt accordingly. 12

QUIZ 13

Make My Time At The Playground Safe! Kindergarten to Grade 3 Quiz (quiz may be oral for younger students) 1. How should you climb up the slide? 2. How should you drop from the monkey bars? 3. What should you do with your bike helmet when you get to the playground? 4. What should you wear on your feet when playing in the playground? 5. What could happen if you wore loose clothes or clothes that have a drawstring? 6. Before getting off the swing, what should you do? Teacher s Key: 1. Use the steps. Never climb up the sliding surface or on top of the tunnel. 2. To drop from monkey bars, land on your feet with your knees slightly bent. 3. Take off your bike helmet; you could become caught in play equipment if you leave it on. 4. Always wear shoes when playing in the playground. 5. Drawstrings in clothing, loose clothing, or clothing with ties could strangle me. 6. Stop the swing before getting off. 14

STUDENT INFORMATION 15

Clothing Safety Info Sheet Alberta Health Services To download this document, visit www.albertahealthservices.ca/injuryprevention.asp 16

Clothing Safety Info Sheet Alberta Health Services (cont.) Playground Safety certificate To download this document, visit www.albertahealthservices.ca/injuryprevention.asp 17

Playground Safety Certificate Today I learned how to stay safe at the playground. Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s), Did you know I need to take my helmet off before using playground equipment? Helmets can get trapped on equipment and strangle me. Thanks for keeping me safe! Student Teacher 18

Playground Safety Checklist (front) General Playground Safety Make sure you are not wearing anything that could strangle or entangle you: Take off your bike helmet. Remove drawstrings from around your neck. Tuck in ties and loose clothing. Wear a neck warmer instead of a scarf. Always wear shoes. Wait your turn. Keep clear of moving things (and people). Keep all ropes away from playground equipment and fences. No pushing, shoving or tripping. Safety on Swings Sit in the centre of the seat, never stand or kneel. Hold on with both hands. Stop the swing before getting off. One person on a swing at a time. Stay away from the front and back of moving swings. 19

Playground Safety Checklist (back) Safety on Slides Use the steps. Never climb up the sliding surface or on top of the tunnel. Make sure everyone is out of the way before sliding. Slide down feet first, sitting up, one person at a time. Don t use the slide when wet. Move away from the slide as soon as you reach the ground. Guardrails are there to protect you. Don't climb over them. Safety on Climbing Structures & Monkey Bars Grip bars with the thumb opposite the fingers, encircling each bar. Hold on with both hands except when moving to a new bar. When a group of children are playing on horizontal bars, start at the same end and move in the same direction. Watch out for swinging feet. To drop, land on your feet with knees slightly bent. Teacher 20

Take the playground safety YES test Alberta Health Services To download this document, visit www.albertahealthservices.ca/injuryprevention.asp 21

Take the playground safety YES test Alberta Health Services (cont.) To download this document, visit www.albertahealthservices.ca/injuryprevention.asp 22

Playgrounds Danger of Strangulation Health Canada Info Sheet To download this document, visit www.hc-sc.gc.ca 23

Practising the Letter P Activity sheet Playground p ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ P ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Did you know each year in Canada, thousands of children get hurt at playgrounds playing on slides, monkey bars or swings? Some children have died when their clothing or drawstrings got caught on playground equipment or fences. Some children have died when they became entangled in ropes or skipping ropes attached to playground equipment. Loose clothing, hoods, scarves, drawstrings, mitten cords, ropes and skipping ropes can strangle a child! (Information provided by Health Canada - www.hc-sc.gc.ca) Parent/Guardian Signature 24

School Safety Info Sheet Alberta Health Services To download this document, visit www.albertahealthservices.ca/injuryprevention.asp 25

School Safety Info Sheet Alberta Health Services (cont.) To download this document, visit www.albertahealthservices.ca/injuryprevention.asp 26

Information Sources Some of the information in this manual originated with or was adapted from the following organizations: Health Canada Parachute Canada For more information visit www.albertahealthservices.ca or e-mail injury.control@albertahealthservices.ca May 2013 www.albertahealthservices.ca/injuryprevention.asp 27