It’s the June school holidays and it’s time for the kids to play.
A six-year-old boy, however, got his leg stuck while playing with his sister at a playground along Bishan Street 23 on Tuesday (June 15) evening.
He slipped while climbing a wire tunnel and his thigh was caught in a gap, the children’s mum told Shin Min Daily News.
Were Playground Rules And Regulations Flouted?
Image courtesy: Facebook/Gan Siow Huang
The boy’s sister rushed home to alert their mum who quickly called the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) for help before making her way to the playground.
Playground Rules And Regulations Looked At Closely
According to the woman, SCDF officers arrived on the scene about 10 to 15 minutes later.
Using hydraulic equipment, officers freed the boy’s leg from the playground feature, the SCDF told AsiaOne.
A paramedic also assessed the child’s condition and he was not taken to hospital.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Marymount MP Gan Siow Huang thanked the SCDF for rescuing the boy, adding that he is okay and “hopes to be able to use the playground again”.
She said: “We have closed the playground in the meantime and will improve its design for better safety before re-opening it.”
Image source: iStock
It’s best to make sure the playground is safe for your children to play in. Singapore’s public playgrounds are built and maintained following playground safety regulations by Enterprise Singapore. But it’s always good to play it safe. Before letting your kids roam free, here are ways you can check the safety of your neighbourhood playground:
- Inspect all the playground equipment to make sure they are in tiptop condition. Check for protruding edges and sharp points. Finding sharp objects like the case above is an extremely rare occurrence here, but the possibility is always there.
- Check the play surface used for the playground. Usually it’s soft enough to withstand minor impact, made out of mulch, wood chops, sand. Most playgrounds in Singapore use rubber mats for flooring.
- Watch the ground area for places where your kids can trip and fall. This includes growing tree stumps, rocks and exposed flooring.
- All elevated areas in the playground, like the top of slides, platforms and ramps, should have guardrails installed so children don’t fall over or attempt to jump off.
If you see something dangerous, don’t allow your child to play in the playground, and report the problem to your town council/ building management. Stay safe.
This article was first published on AsiaOne and republished on theAsianparent with permission.
With inputs from Nicholas Yong.
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