By Heather Matthews
Staff Writer

Mirror/Heather Matthews Livingston Park features a baseball diamond, soccer field and nature trail. Lejla Hodzic, 6, of Manchester said she loves to visit the park with her family because there are so many things to do.

Now that the snow is gone, the trees are budding and spring is well under way, families are heading to Manchester’s 17 public playgrounds to get some fresh air, exercise and have a good time. Playgrounds aren’t always all fun and games, however.

According to the National Playground Program, each year approximately 205,860 preschool and elementary school-aged children receive emergency room care for injuries that occur on playground equipment. Seventysix percent of those injuries happen on public playground equipment.

April 24 through 28 marks the fifth annual National Playground Safety Week. While New Hampshire does not officially observe the awareness week, there are some guidelines parents and children can follow to ensure safe playground play times. For more information, visit www.playgroundsafety.org.

General Etiquette and Safety

Adult supervision is important on playgrounds, but by teaching children to act responsibly and setting a guideline for playground play, they can be kept safe as well.

Some general rules to follow on a playground are:

– Never push or roughhouse on equipment.

– Leave bikes, backpacks and other toys in a designated spot. Items left around the playground can cause children to trip.

– Don’t use equipment that is wet. The moisture can cause the surface to be slippery.

– Don’t wear clothes with drawstrings or ties because they can get caught on equipment.

Swings

– Always sit on the swing. No standing or kneeling. Hold on with both hands and stop the swing completely before getting off.

– Stay a safe distance from other children on swings.

– Never allow two kids to use the swing at the same time.

– Don’t allow children to push other children on swings. Kids don’t know their own strength, and the child being pushed won’t have any control if he wants to stop.

Teeter-totters

– One child per seat.

– Always sit facing one another. Hold on tightly with both hands. Don’t push off with your hands; only use your feet. Keep your feet to the sides.

– Never stand underneath the teeter-totter or try to climb on to it when it is in motion.

Slides

– Always slide down feet first and always sit up.

– Never slide down in groups.

– Always check to make sure the bottom of the slide is clear before going.

– On hot days, feel the slide with your hand before using it. If it is hot, don’t use it.

Climbing Equipment

– Always use both hands and keep back from the person in front of you.

– Beware of swinging feet.

– When dropping from the bars, bend knees and land on both feet.

– Everyone should start at one end of the equipment and move to the other side in the same direction.

– When climbing down, watch for those climbing up.

– Never race across the bars.