Nowadays, some playgrounds are lagging behind in terms of safety, with poor-quality materials contributing to the risks. Due to inadequate safety measures and low-quality materials, playgrounds are responsible for the deaths of 92 children per year. Among the most serious issues are the lack of barricades on high structures, unstable ground made from poor-quality materials, and elevated play areas. If most people heard this news, they might say, “I wish I were an architect and could help save children’s lives.” If I were an architect, I would focus on preventing these serious mistakes.
Playground surfaces are typically made of a mix of plastic and stones, which provides a safer ground, so I would design my park with similar materials. Barricades are often placed on high sections of playgrounds, but they are spaced too far apart, making it easy for children to climb over them. This increases the risk of falling due to a single careless movement. Additionally, although it’s rare, some slides are still made of metal. On hot, sunny days, these slides absorb a lot of heat, and if a child slides down face-first, they can suffer burns on their lips, as the lips are very sensitive. I once witnessed a frightening incident in a park where a child slid down a slide, and the slide suddenly detached, causing the child to fall and bleed. To prevent such accidents, I would add extra support to the slides using metal bars.
In conclusion, we should report hazards in playgrounds to the municipality. By taking necessary precautions, we can help prevent these accidents and ensure safer play spaces for children.