A few precautions can help you keep your backyard play equipment safe, and help prevent your child from becoming one of 51,000 treated each year for injuries on home playgrounds.

First, provide sufficient protective surfacing under and around all equipment, covering any area in which a child might fall. For stationary equipment and slides, you should cover a minimum of 6 feet in all directions. For swings, cover 6 feet from the support structure’s sides, and at least twice the height of the swing—measured from ground to hangers—in both front and back. Recommended loose-fill materials include wood chips, fine sand, fine gravel, and double-shredded bark mulch.

Depending on the height of your playset, you will need the material to be between 6 and 12 inches deep. You may also choose a variety of synthetic surfaces manufactured specifically for playgrounds.

Second, ensure swing sets are firmly anchored and suspended swings are spaced far enough apart. There should be at least 8 inches between swings, and between a swing and the support frame. Swings shouldn’t hang lower than 8 inches from the ground.

Third, if you have any platform area more than 30 inches above ground, install a rail to prevent falls.

Fourth, prevent entrapment and strangulation hazards by closing all open “S” hooks so children don’t become caught, and measure to ensure there are no openings between 3-1/2 and 9 inches in which children can get their heads stuck.

Finally, inspect your playground equipment on a regular basis, looking for hazards like loose hardware, splinters, decayed wood, deterioration or corrosion on structural components, and missing or damaged parts. You should also regularly check the depth of your protective surfacing to ensure it still meets safety standards.