Parents have their children’s best interests in mind, and that’s why you’ll often see heartwarming scenes at the playground, with parents pushing their children on swings and sliding down slides with the child on their lap. Recent studies have shown, however, that sliding down the slide with your child on your lap may not be as safe as you think.

The slide may be fully safeguarded, surrounded by rubber mulch playground flooring and with rubber wearmats at the landing pad, but Dr. John Gaffney, a pediatric orthopedist at Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, N.Y., says it’s not as safe as you think. He saw so many toddlers with broken legs that he decided to try to figure out what was causing the problem. After studying medical records of all of the kids with fractured tibias whom he had treated over the course of 11 months he found that, out of the 58 cases, 13 of the kids had broken their tibias on playground slides, and every one of them had been riding on an adult’s or older sibling’s lap at the time.

The danger lies in the chance of the child’s foot or sneaker getting snagged on the edge of the slide while going down. By the time the parent realizes and untangles the child, the force of the velocity going down may have twisted the child’s foot and snapped the tibia. Even after making sure to tuck the child’s feet in between the adult’s legs, the rubber on the bottom of the child’s shoe could get snagged on the slide, bending the foot backward at an unnatural angle. The best way to help a child on the slide is to hold their hand or provide support from the ground. If the child can’t slide down without assistance they are too young to use the slide.

Parents do everything they can to safeguard their children on the playground, using rubber mulch playground flooring and other means. The playground equipment can be top of the line, with high quality and safety-certified rubber mulch flooring, but it’s important to keep your child safe by having them slide down on their own.

History defines cultures, nations, and people. Many historic inventions have changed lives and continue to be sources of pride for countries everywhere, even becoming symbolic of the country.

Rubber was originally used by Indians in Haiti as soles to waterproof their footgear. Today, Indian rubber drives billions of dollars in commerce through thousands of products. There’s a new twist that has been put on rubber manufacturing that is essential for these times, and that is rubber recycling. Playgrounds, the birthplace of fun for children, are one area that enjoys the benefits of recycled rubber mulch. Rubber bond is also used in sports arenas and gymnasiums, and many other areas. By taking old, worn-out rubber and reusing it, planet Earth is made a better place to live, while simultaneously enhancing people’s lives.

Cotton has a rich American history dating back to the mid 1700’s, when Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin. At one point it was the largest American export and the lifeblood of the South. Today many countries worldwide boast huge quantities of cotton exports and the need grows larger every year. Natural cotton can also be recycled and reused, creating enormous potential for recycled goods.

China, today one of the world’s largest exporters, has for years held a monopoly over the manufacture of silk, and they are still the largest manufacturers of silk today. For years during ancient civilization silk was confined to China. That changed with the opening of the Silk Roads. While silk has a long and storied history, it will remain a symbol of Chinese skill and innovation.

One must consider the success in the rubber mulch industry and copy it over to every industry possible, with cotton as just one example. As people get smarter and more educated about the problems this planet faces many will begin to take up environmentally friendly business ideas and put them into practice. Wall Street, pay attention, the Green Revolution is coming your way.

A recent study reviewed by WebMD, one of the internet’s most respected medical resources, finds that playground injuries sustained on home playgrounds are often a lot more serious than those in public playgrounds. The reason for this is that home playgrounds often don’t have adequate landing equipment like that found in a public playground.

WebMD based their review on a study published in the Injury Prevention journal. For the study, researchers reviewed the cause of nearly 40,000 playground related injuries sustained to children aged 3 to 12 who were treated in Canadian emergency rooms between 1995 and 2008. Reviewing climbing sets, swings, and slides, the researchers found that children were less likely to get hurt on public equipment than on a backyard playset.

Because most children have easier access to public playgrounds than home playsets, only 16% of the injuries reviewed were sustained at home, but these children were 30% more likely to remain in the hospital for their injuries, and a 50% greater chance of having a broken bone. Falls, particularly from slides, seemed to pose the greatest danger.

The data clearly points to the necessity for adequate playground safety measures and the right playground flooring in home playgrounds as well as commercial ones. Concrete and blacktop provide no cushioning from a fall, while grass and gravel may also lose what little protection they offer from weather related circumstances, such as rain. The best playground flooring is rubber mulch chips or poured rubber bond. The CPSC recommends that the rubber be filled nine inches deep. For those looking to cut corners, even if the playground has sub-par flooring, rubber wearmats must be placed in landing zones and areas of high impact.

Parents who install backyard playgrounds have their children’s best interests at heart, but they aren’t doing them any favors by providing unsafe play conditions. To prevent injuries, home playgrounds must be planned from the bottom up. Experts advise that when budgeting, cut corners on playground equipment in order to install safe playground flooring.

Rubber mulch is known to be an excellent surface for playgrounds, landscaping, and horse arenas. What is less known is that it is also the perfect surface for water playgrounds, or splash parks. Water playgrounds are becoming more and more popular, especially in cities with few parks and little relief from the summer’s heat. The playgrounds feature equipment with water splashing out for kids to play in.

In a water playground it is vital that the floor should be of good quality, because a slippery floor could be the cause of many injuries, and a floor that does not drain adequately can become moldy and transmit infectious diseases. The perfect flooring for a splash park is one that is made of rubber mulch.

Rubber playground flooring is extremely shock absorbent, and prevents injuries from falls that often occur in a splash pad. It also has great traction, which can help prevent slipping. The only form of rubber mulch that is suitable for a water playground is rubber bond. Rubber bond is a smooth, clean surface that comes in a variety of colors and has the characteristics of rubber mulch. Its smooth, even surface will not splinter or crack, and best of all, it lasts for years.

A major of pro of rubber bond is that it is poured flush with the ground, eliminating the possibility of tripping. It is best when laid after the playground equipment has already been ordered and installed, so that it is poured directly over the legs of the equipment, with no gaps around poles or other bases. In this way it is also easier to place drainage systems in the appropriate places. One more benefit of rubber bond is that its flat, even surface doesn’t have hills and valleys for water to pool; the continuous flat plane will allow for efficient runoff and draining.

It is important to have a waterproof sealant spread over Playsafer rubber bond, ensuring a floor that is beautiful and functional.

Many people purchase rubber mulch for playgrounds for different reasons; aesthetic appeal, low maintenance, financial practicality, and various other reasons. Perhaps one of the main pros of rubber mulch is its childhood safety. It is well known that the extra shock absorbency found in rubber mulch flooring helps enforce playground safety by preventing injury from falls. In fact, Playsafer rubber mulch meets the guidelines of the ADA and CPSC. These agencies perform rigorous checks before giving the seal of approval, so this is not an attribute that should be taken lightly.

The ADA stands for the Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA works to ensure that Americans with disabilities are not discriminated against, and receive fair treatment by employers, and fair conditions in areas of public jurisdiction. Public parks and playgrounds are included in the areas overseen by the ADA, and they strive to provide conditions that are wheelchair accessible and accommodating to those with disabilities. They urge the use of rubber mulch in playgrounds because it facilitates the use of wheelchairs, and the bouncy surface is safer for people with disabilities.

The CPSC, or Consumer Product Safety Commission, is better known than the ADA. The CPSC is in charge of ensuring the safety of all consumer goods, in particular, products for children. They are also in charge of urging companies to issue recalls on products that are safety hazards for children. They are so vigilant that they recently issued a recall on a specific type of teddy bear manufactured by Build-A-Bear because the button eyes tend to loosen and fall out, posing a choking hazard. The CPSC is everywhere; they have also issued a recall on a particular highchair model from Ikea which poses the hazard of children falling out.

Rubber mulch’s seal of approval from the CPSC is perhaps its defining factor, because the CPSC is the gold standard in safety. In order to give their approval, the CPSC tested various samples of Rubberecycle rubber mulch, subjecting it to intense conditions, and testing for dangerous chemicals or components. They emerged with the all clear.

With approval from both the ADA and CPSC, highly regarded government agencies, parents everywhere can rest assured that rubber mulch is truly the safest playground flooring available for their children.

As the rich get richer and technology gets more advanced, there are more and more creative ways to conserve the environment’s resources. A house for sale in upstate New York is a prime example of this. Located within walking distance of the Mohonk preserve, which offers 1,000 acres of scenic hiking and rock climbing, this home rotates on its axis to make optimum use out of solar energy.

The home that is now for sale for $1.2 million is a wooden, dome shaped structure that resembles a spaceship. Each season, the home is rotated for maximum efficiency of solar rays. The home was built using a kit from France called Domespace, and is the only one of its kind that has been built in the U.S. It is made of honey colored wood and features bamboo floors, with high ceilings and long sloping windows that keep the space bright and airy. It consists of two floors, with two bedrooms, a kitchen, and living space on the first floor. A central spiral staircase leads to a second floor which houses the master suite, office, and balcony.

This may seem an extravagant way to try to go green, but there are simpler ways for the average consumer to keep the environment healthy. Rubber mulch is made out of recycled tires, and is great for use in playgrounds, landscaping, and horse arenas. While it costs a little more than wood chips, many users have found that the rubber pays out for itself within a short time because it is very durable, and needs little maintenance and no replenishing. The average home can be made more eco-friendly with recycled rubber mulch used in the front lawn as part of the landscaping, and in the backyard playground. Using rubber mulch is a practical way that anyone can help the environment without spending $1.2 million.

The Friday after Thanksgiving is in itself a holiday in America, maybe even greater than Thanksgiving itself. It’s called Black Friday. Black Friday is known for offering ridiculously low deals on electronics, along with other random goods. What some consumers don’t know is that Black Friday offers a lot more than just electronics. You can obtain items from numerous genres at extremely discounted prices. For example, stores like Home Depot and Lowes will offer excellent deals on home remodeling goods. Even recycled rubber mulch may be on sale.

Rubber mulch is known for numerous qualities, but some are wary of the greater initial investment it requires. Playsafer playground mulch needs virtually no maintenance over the years, so it pays for itself fairly quickly. With cheap Black Friday prices, the deal on rubber mulch is too good to pass up. You’ll get the newest and most popular playground surface material at a fraction of the price.

Rubber mulch has made a name for itself on the market with an extra measure of shock absorbency that prevents injuries and promotes playground safety. It also comes in numerous colors for bright and cheerful designs and playground themes. An added perk is that the color lasts for years, retaining its vibrancy, and it doesn’t come off on children’s clothes and hands.

There’s a certain giddy excitement that comes with loading up a shopping cart with high end products at a fraction of the price. Now look for unexpected deals to add to your cart, such as playground mulch. To help you with your shopping, many major retailers release their Black Friday adds prior to Black Friday, so you can plan a route between stores, and decide which store will have the best deals to fit your needs.

The Northeast was subject to an October storm this past week that broke records set by previous storms. Never before had there been an October storm that hit with such power, dumping an unprecedented amount of up to eighteen inches of snow on trees still heavy with leaves. The Governors of Connecticut and New Jersey declared states of emergency, and millions were left without power. Clean up from the store will be costly and time consuming, as people reel from winter’s premature strike.

Newer and well maintained houses and grounds will have an easier time cleaning up from the storm. Schools, especially, will try to clean their playgrounds out quickly so that children can benefit from the end of the crisp autumn weather before winter sets in. Superior playground surfaces and equipment will make the clean-up in commercial playgrounds a lot quicker and easier.

In parks and playgrounds that are floored with wood chips, the wet wood absorbs water and easily gets rotten. Pieces of wood break off and dirty the snow, making clean-up virtually impossible until the snow melts. The splinters of wood littering the snow can also pose as a safety hazard for children. Playgrounds that have rubber mulch surfaces, on the other hand, will have an easier time. As a less porous substance, the rubber does not rot or absorb water. The particles that make up the rubber playground flooring are also more dense, so they stay together, as opposed to wood, which gets strewn about by any storm.

School boards and principals should seriously consider installing rubber mulch in their playgrounds before winter sets in,  because this freak October storm is only the first of many. Rubber playground flooring makes clean-up a lot more economical, and keeps children safe.

As the Green Revolution keeps gaining steam, it is spreading to all areas of daily living, from household products to the way we eat. There are some that are gaining instant popularity for their eco-friendly aspects as well as for their aesthetic appeal and other features.

Rubber Mulch playground surface
Playgrounds of old were built on grass, blacktop, and cement. In recent years, wood chips have also been used. The playground flooring of the future is Playsafer rubber mulch. Rubber mulch is made of used rubber tires, saving space in landfills, and helping to recycle used goods. Tire mulch is used mainly for playground flooring, but is also seen in horse arenas and for landscaping purposes. The new and improved playground surfacing comes in a variety of colors that never fades or weathers, and needs little or no maintenance. It also carries no odor, and allows kids to play without getting dusty, muddy, and dirty. Rubber mulch is every mother’s dream.

Method Cleaning Supplies
Method makes cleaning cool. Founded by college friends Adam Lowry and Eric Ryan, Method soaps got their first big break when they were picked up by Target. Today they are sold in major retailers nationwide. Method soaps are eco-friendly, and “as pleasing to the nose as they are to the eye.” They are packaged in innovative and pleasing packaging that is, of course, eco-friendly.

Laminate Flooring
Hardwood is a flooring of choice for many, but it is very costly, and can take a toll on the rate of deforestation. Laminate is the new hardwood. Laminate flooring is made of synthetic materials, combined with some wood shavings, and can be made to imitate the look of virtually any flooring. It is a lot more affordable than a hardwood floor, and easy to maintain. Laminate flooring may also be known as Pergo, a European company that came up with the concept of laminate floors.

With time, our lifestyles will undoubtedly change to reflect an effort to go green.

It is safe to say that Hurricane Irene was one of the worst natural disasters to hit the northeast in years. States of Emergency were declared, and gas stations and supermarkets were emptied of flashlights, canned food, and the like. It may have been exciting to prepare for, but the aftermath left a path of destruction in its wake, with people left to repair, rebuild, and try to put their lives back together in these trying economic times. One of the many expenses that both private civilians and cities must take into account is restoring their play areas. On a whole, most playgrounds were not severely damaged, as the playground equipment is secured. However, flooring is a huge expense, and many areas were eroded, with their playground floors washed away. Some people were fortunate enough to escape this expense, by using rubber mulch.

Playground flooring is usually the last thing that people will put into their budget as a big expense, resorting to the most cost-effective solution. However, those who did invest in Playsafer rubber mulch are now reaping the rewards. The commonly used wood chips absorb water, and in a severe storm such as the one we’ve seen, can easily erode and get moldy. Rubber mulch, the playground flooring alternative, is synthetic and non-porous, allowing rain water to wash right over it. This feature is also beneficial when mulch is used for landscaping, as plants receive all the rainwater, as opposed to wood chips which absorb some of it on the way down.

Some playgrounds have playground rubber mats rather than rubber chips. This type of flooring has the same characteristics as rubber chips or shavings, allowing the ground to dry quickly, with no rotting. Playground mats are also very durable in the face of strong winds, and are secured well, allowing a place for children to roam free while the clean up commences.

Rubber mulch is also used in horse training arenas, where expenses are monumental. Horse farms are especially vulnerable to tropical storms such as Hurricane Irene, as all the structures are built from flimsy wood, from the fences to the paddocks and the barns. With so much rebuilding to be done, it is a relief to know that the flooring in the arena is safe. Rubber mulch is also especially important as the ground dries out quickly, making it safer for horses that would otherwise slip and slide on the wood.

At the time of purchase it may be hard to invest in rubber mulch, when there are more affordable options available. However, it is important to think about the future. In the event of a storm, and even under conventional circumstances, rubber mulch quickly pays for itself.