The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission first published the Public Playground Safety Handbook in 1981. While it’s been updated with revisions, we still see over 200,000 emergency room treated injuries each year, and even more tragic, the death of sweet babies. I remember the day my brother fell from a piece of playground equipment. My stepdad tells the story of holding the broken bones of my brothers arm together on the way to the emergency room, but we are fortunate. Broken bones heal. Broken hearts do not. School playgrounds should not be dangerous places for a child. So, why are they? Is it a lack of funding? Is it disrepair or lack of training? Playgrounds do have irreplaceable benefits. They offer a place for students to engage with each other, boosting their social and emotional skills. Playtime promotes healthy physical activity a study in the Human Kinetics Journal reports that recess accounted for 17% to 44% of school-day step counts for a study group of one-hundred sixty-third to fifth-grade students. Unsafe environments deter all these benefits. The site of the playground alone is critical for assessing risk. Factors such as fencing and shade should be considered. Is the surface flat? Does the equipment have impact attenuating protective surfacing? Are there any other hazards? We also need to ensure that the equipment is age-appropriate. Supervision cannot be undervalued. I currently work at a preschool, and I have witnessed carelessness. This opens the potential for falls and entrapment. Not only should the equipment be age-appropriate, but the groups of children playing should not be widely overlapped. Finally, the equipment itself is of utmost importance. Every detail must be considered from the finish of metal and wood or paint to the hardware including accessories such as ropes and swings. Making sure there are no sharp corners or tripping hazards also might alleviate an injury. With all these factors considered, it is all for naught if we do not maintain the playground. The Handbook for Public Playground Safety offers an appendix of a suggested general maintenance checklist along with testing procedures. Why is it important to have safe playgrounds? Every child is deserving of a safe play area for fresh air and fun with friends. Even more so, every parent should not have to fear they will get that dreadful call from the school. What actions would I take to receive the correct training? I’ve already completed the Kansas Department of Health and Environment course called Active Kids and Active Supervision. I learned the priority of keeping young children safe with an in-depth look at strategies of active supervision. I also completed a playground safety evaluation during the course. The DeBruhl family story touched my heart. It is a story I will take with me into my teaching career. Sweet Andrea will not be forgotten. I will continue to educate myself and others on the imperative importance of playground safety.