Commissioner Causey urges caution during Playground Safety Awareness Week

[video:https://youtu.be/acuVHU0tjG0]

This week marks Safe Kids: Playground Safety Awareness Week and North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey wants to ensure children in North Carolina stay safe now and throughout the summer.

With the end of the school year quickly approaching, more children will be enjoying the warmer temperatures and be out on the playground. Commissioner Causey wants to emphasize proper preparation is key to preventing injuries.

"Children learn by doing," said Commissioner Causey. "Playing is essential for a child’s happiness and development. It is imperative education is in place so a child learns how to play safely."

According to Safest Playground, a national program for playground safety, every year more than 200,000 children in the U.S. suffer injuries on the playground that result in an emergency room visit. Four out of five of these injuries include falls that result in severe fractures, internal injuries, concussions, dislocations and amputations.

Children not only experience severe injuries but also die from playground equipment-related deaths. Each year, approximately 15 children die playing on playgrounds.

Safe Kids: Playground Safety Awareness Week begins April 23rd – April 27th.

This annual event is a reminder to parents, grandparents, caregivers, teachers, camp counselors, and others that children are vulnerable to playground-related injuries and fatalities.

To keep your child safe on the playground, Insurance Commissioner Causey asks that you remember these five safety tips:

About Safe Kids North Carolina
Safe Kids North Carolina is dedicated to preventing childhood injury, the number one cause of death for children in North Carolina. For more information, contact Director Shannon Bullock at 919.647.0081 or Shannon.Bullock@ncdoi.gov.

1. Actively supervise children on playgrounds.
2. Check playgrounds where your children play. Look for hazards, such as rusted or broken equipment and dangerous surfaces. Report any hazards to the school or appropriate local office.
3. Teach children that pushing, shoving or crowding while on the playground can be dangerous.
4. Dress appropriately for the playground. Remove necklaces, purses, scarves or clothing with drawstrings that can get caught on equipment and pose a strangulation hazard. Even helmets can be dangerous on a playground, so save those for bikes.
5. Younger children can play differently than older children. It is important to have a separate play area for children under 5.

About Safe Kids North Carolina
Safe Kids North Carolina is dedicated to preventing childhood injury, the number one cause of death for children in North Carolina. For more information, contact Director Shannon Bullock at 919-647-0081 or Shannon.Bullock@ncdoi.gov.