Backyard Play Equipment Safety

Swing sets, climbers, slides, trampolines and play houses give kids hours of exercise, but they also cause thousands of emergency room visits each year, mostly from falls. Surfaces, spacing, maintenance and supervision prevent most serious injuries.

• Parents & Caregivers
• Homeowners
• Grandparents

Setting up play equipment

• Choose equipment made for the ages of the children using it, and follow the manufacturer's assembly instructions exactly. Use all the hardware.
• Place it on level ground, away from fences, trees, walls, sheds, driveways, pools, power lines and hard surfaces.
• Anchor the frame as directed, so it doesn't tip or lift when kids swing. Check anchors for rust and loosening.
• Leave clear space around it, generally at least 6 feet in all directions from the equipment, and more in front of and behind swings (twice the height of the swing's top bar is a common guideline).
• Keep swings apart from each other and the frame, and don't hang more than two swings per bay. Use soft seats for young children.
• Choose equipment with guardrails and barriers on elevated platforms, and avoid a platform higher than the child's ability.

Soft surfaces under play equipment

Most playground injuries happen in falls. Grass and dirt wear down and become hard. Concrete, asphalt, and packed soil are dangerous. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends a protective surface that extends well beyond the equipment.

• Use loose-fill materials such as wood chips, engineered wood fiber, rubber mulch or sand, or poured-in-place or rubber tile surfacing.
• For loose fill, CPSC guidance is a depth of at least 9 inches for the heights of typical backyard equipment, and the material compresses and scatters over time, so rake, top up and check regularly.
• Extend the surface at least 6 feet in all directions from the equipment, and further in front of and behind swings and slides.
• Keep holes, roots, rocks and stumps out of play zones, and replace worn or contaminated material. Keep pets out so it stays clean.

Common hazards

• Strangulation: drawstrings, hoods, scarves, necklaces, ropes, leashes and bike helmets (which should be taken off before playing on equipment) can catch on parts. Don't tie ropes or jump ropes to equipment. See Blind Cords.
• Entrapment: openings that are between 3.5 and 9 inches can trap a child's head. Check for such gaps in rails and ladders.
• Hot surfaces: metal slides and platforms can burn skin in sun. Shade equipment or check surfaces first.
• Sharp edges, splinters, exposed bolts, rust and broken parts.
• Falls from height: from climbers and platforms, and landing on others.
• Sun, heat and bugs: sunscreen, hats and water. See Heat Illness.

Trampolines, pools and other equipment

• Trampolines cause many fractures and head and neck injuries. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against home trampolines. If you have one, allow one jumper at a time, use safety nets and padding, keep it away from structures, avoid flips and don't let young children jump.
• Pools and water play: a fence at least 4 feet high with a self-closing, self-latching gate around a pool is a key safeguard, plus constant adult supervision. Cover or empty inflatable and wading pools. See Pool & Water Safety.
• Fire pits, grills and tools should be kept away from kids. See Grilling and Fireworks.
• Tree houses need sturdy support, railings and safe access. Sandboxes should have covers when not in use, so animals don't contaminate them.

Supervision and inspection

• Supervise children actively, especially young ones, and stay close enough to reach them. Teach kids to take turns, slide feet first, sit on swings and not walk in front of them.
• Inspect equipment each season and often during use: check for loose or missing bolts, worn swing hangers and chains, rust, cracked plastic, splintered wood and unstable footings.
• Remove or repair broken equipment right away and don't let children use it. Replace parts with the manufacturer's.
• Check for recalls at CPSC.gov and register new products. See Childproofing.
• Have a first aid kit and know the number for Poison Control, 1-800-222-1222. See Home First Aid.

Backyard play checklist

• Equipment is age-appropriate, anchored and has clear space around it
• There's about 9 inches of loose fill or rubber surfacing, extended 6 feet or more around it
• Drawstrings, scarves and helmets are off before play
• Hot slides and loose hardware are checked, and an adult is watching
• Pools are fenced and gated; trampolines are limited or avoided

Last updated: October 5, 2026