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The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.

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DOH Supports Playground Safety

By Florida Department of Health, Office of Communications

April 23, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2015

Contact: Communications Office
(850) 245-4111

THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SUPPORTS PLAYGROUND SAFETY

TALLAHASSEE—This week is National Playground Safety Week and the Florida Department of Health encourages parents and children to make safety a priority on the playground. Through Safe Kids Florida the department is working to reduce the number of unintentional childhood injuries and deaths that occur in Florida.

"Playgrounds are wonderful places for kids to stay active and just be kids," said State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong. "It is important to keep these environments safe for Florida's children, families and communities."

Safe Kids Florida supports 13 local Safe Kids coalitions throughout the state and currently 81 percent of Florida's children ages 19 and under live in a county where Safe Kids operates. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, falls are the most common type of playground injury, accounting for more than 75 percent of all playground-related injuries.

Here are a few tips for Florida families to stay safe at the playground:

  • Actively supervise children on playgrounds. It won't be hard—they'll probably be calling for you to watch them climb, jump and swing.
  • Take your kids to playgrounds with shock-absorbing surfaces such as rubber, synthetic turf, sand, pea gravel, wood chips or mulch. If your child falls, the landing will be more cushioned than on asphalt, concrete, grass or dirt.
  • 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.
  • Teach children that pushing, shoving or crowding while on the playground can be dangerous.

or more playground safety tips visit www.safekids.org/tip/playground-safety-tips.

To learn more about Safe Kids Florida visit www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/safe-kids-florida/index.html.

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The department works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.floridahealth.gov.

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