Splash pads and spray parks are designed specifically to provide children with a safe place to play in a safe body of water, but accidents do sometimes occur. It is up to supervising adults to educate themselves about the dangers of splash pads and spray parks in order to keep children safe from harm.
When visiting a water park, splash pads are a popular place for smaller children to congregate and play. Obviously the top goal should be their safety while playing on the splash pad, even if it appears to be a pretty safe place there are a few things you should be aware of.
How Safe Are Splash Pads & Spray Parks? #
According to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database, over 20,000 injuries occurred on pool decks, splash pads, or water parks in 2014 alone, resulting in ER visits.
The surface is the unifying factor in all of these splash pad injuries. According to my personal study after visiting this particular splash pad, the most frequent splash pad surface is concrete, which is often coated with an abrasive coating. With unintentional pediatric falls being the main reason of admission to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, this type of flooring is alarming.
The risk of damage from falling, as well as the possibility of infection, came to mind while I relished the cool water splashing on my back. People may be unaware that, despite the fact that there is no standing water in these attractions, the spray water will rinse any impurities (such as diarrhea, vomit, and dirt) down into the water holding area and be sprayed again. To put it another way, the water is recycled throughout the system. As a result, the water may get poisoned and cause people to become ill.
Young children can drown in just a few inches of water and in a matter of minutes. When it comes to children’s safety, keeping a watchful check on them when they play in the water is a top priority.
The safety of anyone playing on a splash pad is not only the responsibility of adults present, but also of the pool contractors who designed and built the splash pad. Many restrictions and rules are in place around splash pads to keep everyone safe. Continue reading for the ultimate splash pad water safety tips.
Splash Pad Safety Guidelines #
There are guidelines for everyone who is involved in the construction of splash pad and spray parks. Everyone is needed to follow these guidelines in order to avoid accidents and make the environment safe for youngsters. These regulations should be clearly displayed in areas where all guests can see them. Most regulations are written specifically for children, yet adults are usually the ones who must direct kids to follow them. Most younger children will not be aware of the rules or may be persuaded to play seriously. To keep children secure, you must educate them to the best of your ability.
Respect Adults Giving Instructions #
The most important rule is to be aware that this is a public or semi-public location that many people are using, so be considerate of others. Be considerate and share the available space. This is especially true because most spray parks do not have lifeguards on duty because there is usually no standing water. This places the onus on those in attendance.
Adult Supervision is Required for Small Children #
If you have a child under the age of seven, they must be accompanied by an adult. This is to assist them in following the rules because they are typically of an age range that is not yet aware of how to do so. This will also keep kids safe while they are playing in the park.
No Eating Or Drinking #
The major goal of this guideline is to keep all food and beverages away from the splash pad or spray park. Introducing food into a sanitized water environment is never a good call.
Protection From Lightning #
These parks should have a mechanism in place that alerts park visitors if there is lightning nearby. All features will be turned off automatically, and everyone is obliged to vacate the splash pad until otherwise alerted. Depending on the severity of the weather, the park may remain closed for the remainder of the day or reopen within the next 30 minutes.
Showering Before Enjoying The Play Area #
The first regulation that is frequently overlooked is that you must shower before entering a splash pad or spray park. This may appear to be a minor rule, but it is for your safety and the safety of others who are there. This keeps the water cleaner and prevents any contamination on your skin from migrating to one of the toys in the area with which you may interact.
Water Monitoring Laws #
The majority of the laws apply where spray parks and splash pads are concerned, particuarly to public usage spaces require these facilities to be inspected on a routine basis and have their chemical filtration maintenance conducted on a routine basis.
Not To Be Used As A Bathroom #
The fundamental rule is that the area should not be used as a bathroom. This is especially prevalent with younger children who don’t know any better, yet it transmits illness and can be harmful to others. You are not permitted to enter the area if you are unwell or have diarrhea.
If you have a child under the age of four, they must be wearing a swim diaper. Even so, you must check and clean their diaper on a frequent basis to avoid water contamination.
Don’t Drink The Water #
Along with the above point, you never know what other youngsters in the region have done. Although precautions are made, you should avoid doing things like drinking the water, especially since it includes chlorine, which is not recommended for ingestion.
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