It's important for adults to check playgrounds for potential hazards, and to check their children as well. How a child is dressed plays an important role in his or her safety. For example, hooded coats and sweatshirts with drawstrings should not be worn because they may get caught on equipment, causing serious--if not fatal--injuries.

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and its National Playground Safety Institute (NPSI) offer the following playground safety tips.

• Inspect the playground before play.

• Supervise children while they play.

• Be sure children use playground equipment appropriate for their age.

• Be sure children use playground equipment for its intended purpose only.

• Check that all elevated surfaces have chest-high guard rails.

• Watch for potential trip hazards such as rocks, tree stumps and concrete footings.

• Be sure all openings are less than three-and-one-half inches wide or greater than nine inches wide to prevent head entrapment.

• Check that each piece of equipment is surrounded by a minimum six-foot fall zone covered with an appropriate amount of resilient surfacing such as sand, pea gravel, hardwood fiber or mulch.