Fall zones are necessary to mitigate severity of fall injuries. The CPSC states that a minimum of six feet in all directions should be provided from the end of playground equipment, with two exceptions. The zone in front of a slide should extend a minimum of six feet from the end of the slide exit, or a distance of the height of the slide plus four feet, which ever is wider. Equipment with less than these recommended distances should not be used until corrected. Overcrowding and unsafe traffic patterns can result in injuries.
All playground equipment has a limit on the number of children it can safely accommodate.
Supervisors must limit the number of children on any given piece of equipment according to manufacturers recommendations. If possible, post the limit. Strangulation can occur from mishaps with strings and ropes. Strings on clothing, such as draw strings on hooded sweat shirts, and rope, such as jump ropes can get caught in or on equipment and result in accidental strangulation. Draw strings should removed or not be worn by young children.