The weather is about to get a lot warmer…actually, perhaps it already has where you are located. In anticipation of spring, and the sudden influx of children back onto your church’s playground, it’s important to make sure that your outdoor recreation equipment is as safe as it needs to be.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, “Compare the playgrounds of 25 years ago to today's modern playsets and the differences are striking – metal has been overtaken by colorful plastics and wood, homemade rope swings have been replaced by rope ladders anchored for safety, and single-level structures have been dwarfed by multi-tier castles. Yet with all the advances in playground designs, there are still far too many playground related injuries involving children – about 200,000 each year.”

The commission offers the following five safety tips as we “swing” into spring:

* Purchase play equipment that meets the latest safety standards.

* Smooth sharp points or edges, and close open "S" hooks and cover protruding bolts.

* Check for openings in guardrails or between ladder rungs.

* Always supervise young children to make sure they are safe.

* Install protective surfacing at least six feet in all directions from play equipment. For swings, the surface should extend, in back and front, twice the height of the suspending bar.

I hope, as a church leader, you are doing everything possible to keep your students safe, both inside and outside.

I’m always interested in hearing from you. You can reach me at jill@rpnmag.com.

God Bless,

Jill Pinheiro