Slides and swings are some of the most common equipment seen on playgrounds. They can also, if installed and/or used improperly, be some of the most dangerous playground equipment.
There are many different types of slides (straight, wavy, spiral, etc.) and swings (bucket, belt, tire, etc.) and each type of equipment has specific age recommendations, safety guidelines and supervision needs.
The “walkthrough” that follows will encompass information and guidelines for slides and swings, and also provides links to useful resources.
Disclaimer
The pictures on the following pages may depict some items and/or situations which are hazardous or unsafe. They are intended to assist in the identification of unsafe situations, and therefore may not represent “best practices”. If you have questions about any of the pictures or the situations depicted, please contact us at
nccrahs@mcrf.mfldclin.edu.
Walkthroughs
A "Walkthrough" refers to "walking through" or looking through a series of pictures, and deciding if they show hazards and/or safety items, or if safety items are lacking. After evaluating the pictures and giving an answer, a correction will appear with additional guidelines, recommendations and resources.