My daughter was playing at a local park, full of beans as she got on a straight post cantilever swing. She has ADHD and so will always endeavour to go higher, or faster. She always has to be climbing, or running or jumping off things. Whilst on this swing, she was pushed, no harder than what we thought would be safe, however when it swung around, the basket hit the wooden post and  her head impacted immediately after.  What followed were life-threatening head injuries that no parent should ever witness. This traumatic experience opened my eyes to the potential dangers these swing setups pose to our children.

Straight post cantilever swings are common in playgrounds due to their simplistic and modern design, yet this very design lacks the necessary safety features to prevent such tragic accidents. 

Replacing straight post cantilever swings with safer alternatives that have safer designs will not only help reduce the likelihood of such horrific accidents but will also give parents peace of mind while their children enjoy playing outdoors, free from unnecessary risks.

This is a call to action for our local council, park authorities, and playground equipment manufacturers to take immediate steps to replace these hazardous swings with safer options. We propose the installation of safer swings which allow their full swing capacity, as well as bumpers or padding on any posts to reduce the likelihood of more serious injury. 

Please support me to ensure no other family has to endure the pain we went through and will continue to go through for however long it takes to heal. Let's make our playgrounds safer for children where fun does not come at the cost of safety. Please sign this petition to demand the replacement of straight post cantilever swings in our community playgrounds with safer alternatives. 

Being a parent is tricky enough without having to worry about your child not coming home from the park.