Training Playground Supervisors Can Reduce Playground Injuries and Potential Liability

Here are some of the reasons why untrained supervisors can be involved in playground injuries cases, and possibly cases where liability is found against the School:

• The untrained supervisor may not be aware of the potential dangers of playground equipment.
• The untrained supervisor may not be able to recognize when a child is in danger.
• The untrained supervisor may not be sufficiently trained to intervene quickly enough to prevent an injury.

In addition, untrained supervisors can be easily distracted by other tasks, such as looking at their phones or talking to other adults. Both of these activities can lead to inadequate supervision and an increased risk of injury.

Here are some tips for ensuring that playground supervisors are properly trained:

• Provide supervisors with training on the potential dangers of playground equipment.
• Falls: Falls are the leading cause of playground injuries. Children fall from swings, slides, climbing structures, and other equipment.
• Entrapment: Children can become entrapped in gaps between pieces of equipment, ropes or chains etc.
• Collisions: Children collide with each other and equipment, leading to injuries.
• Cuts and scrapes and bruises occur but can be reduced when playgrounds are maintained.
• Burns: Especially during the hot summer months.
• Head injuries: Children sustain head injuries from falls and collisions.

• Trained Supervisors, on the other hand, look at the playground and children from a completely different perspective.

• Train supervisors on how to recognize when a child is in danger.
• Scan the playground regularly for dangerous items.
• Pay attention to children’s behavior
• Listen to children. Are they yelling? Angry?
• Be aware of potential hazards.
• Be alert for signs of danger
• If you see children in danger, Act immediately!

• Supervisors should enforce safety rules and maintain a safe and orderly environment

• Rules should be enforced consistently
• The supervisor should be familiar with all the equipment and its intended use of the equipment
• The supervisor should be able to identify damaged or malfunctioning equipment and tape it off as “out of use”.

Train supervisors on how to intervene quickly to prevent an injury.

• Have a command for “Stop” or Freeze.
• Get In close proximately to a child in risky play
• If a child picks up a sharp object, approach the child and remove the object.
• If a child is injured, the supervisor should call for help
• Never leave the playground unsupervised
• Be approachable and friendly

Require supervisors to be alert and focused on the children at all times.

• Set clear expectations
• Provide regular training
• Encourage supervisors to take breaks
• Monitor the supervisor performance
• Conduct safety audits
• Hold supervisors accountable
• Be aware restrooms are often problem areas for inappropriate play (flushing toilets, throwing paper towels, water fights, etc.)
• Don’t leave children unsupervised at lunch tables

Supervisor Accountability

• Supervisors should have a clear view of all areas of the playground
• Close areas if children are behind buildings or there are too few supervisors
• Encourage supervision zones
• Provide supervisors with a way to communicate with the office
• Create a culture of safety
• Encourage supervisors to report safety hazards

In addition to these above safety tips, it is best to have someone trained in CPR and First Aid on the playground at all times in case of an emergency.

By taking these steps, schools can help to reduce the number of playground injuries, keep children safe and potentially reduce liability. In addition to keeping children safe, these measures can help to protect your school and district from the frustrating and time-consuming and often heart-wrenching experience of a lawsuit and court case over a life-altering playground injury.

I was most recently involved in a case involving one child, reportedly settled in the $10 million range. While this is the largest school settlement of a playground injury that I’m aware of, I continue to see case amounts and settlement amounts climb.

Another way to look at it is, if the district had spent 10 million on playground supervisor training, the district teachers at an average training price of less than $100 per teacher, and with 10 M they could have trained 100,000 teachers in playground supervision.

We have so many resources (free, minimal cost, training, online, in person, articles, books, etc.) Please take a few minutes and check out your many options to keep kids safe.

Playground Supervision: A How to Guide for Playground Supervisors

https://peacefulplaygrounds.com/product/digital-downloads/playground-supervision-a-how-to-guide-for-playground-supervisors/

5 Strategies for Reducing Playground Injuries

https://peacefulplaygrounds.com/product/digital-downloads/5-strategies-reducing-playground-injuries/

Playground Supervision Online Training https://peacefulplaygrounds.com/courses/playground-supervisor-training-2/

For additional resources on Playground Supervision visit the Peaceful Playgrounds Content Library topic: Playground Safety and Supervision Resources These resources are free. https://peacefulplaygrounds.com/playground-safety-and-supervision-members/