Should a sandbox be covered when not being played with?
a. Yes
b. No

Should pets be fenced off from the children?
a. Yes
b. No

Should you use cement to secure playground equipment?
a. No
b. Yes

What type of paint should be used on playground equipment?
a. Lead Free
b. Lead Based

Outdoor Safety

· Sandboxes should be kept clean and covered when they are not in use. Only use sand labeled “play sand”. Keep all gardening and lawn equipment in a shed, garage or another safe place with a locked door. All toxins (pesticides, gasoline, etc.) must be locked in cabinets out of a child's sight and reach. Place a poison sign on the cabinet.

· Check your yard and garden for toxic plants, including many common flowers, shrubs and weeds. Fence young children out of areas containing hazardous or poisonous plant material, or remove the plants from your yard.

· Fence pets (yours and other's) out of children's play areas to prevent contamination with animal feces and urine.

· Some authorities recommend that children's play areas not include structures made of pressure treated wood, due to arsenic and other compounds sometimes present in such wood.

· Any back yard play equipment should be bolted securely in place, and not have cement or hard top underneath it. Surfaces should be twelve inches of soft sand or wood chips, or rubber matting approved for playground use. Soft surfaces should extend six feet from the edge of any structure (wider if the structure is higher than four feet).

· Structures for children under 3 years old should not be taller than the child's height, and should not have railings or slats more than 2-3/8 inches apart.

· Check all structures for sharp edges, hanging cords or ropes, loose bolts or screws, splinters, cracks, or other damage or areas that could catch or hurt children. All sharp edges should be cushioned to reduce injury in case of a fall.

· DO NOT USE items which have been painted with lead based paint. Other peeling paint should be removed and repainted.