Some of the most common causes of playground injuries include:
- 1. Slides A significant number of playground injuries happen on slides. Research shows a strong correlation between shinbone fractures and young kids going down a slide on an adult’s lap. ...
- 2. Falls Falls from playground equipment to the ground is the top cause of playground-related injuries. Children fall due to a wide range of reasons. ...
- 3. Other causes
Which playground is responsible for the most injuries?
How often do girls get injured on the playground?
How many children died from playground injuries in 2000?
About this website
What is the leading cause of injury in children?
Leading causes of child unintentional injury include motor vehicle crashes, suffocation, drowning, poisoning, fires, and falls. Child injury is often preventable.
What are the two most common hazards on public playgrounds?
A protrusion hazard is anything that could impale or cut a child who might fall against it. An entanglement hazard is anything that could catch an item of clothing or jewelry worn around a child's neck.
Which piece of playground equipment causes the most injuries?
Defective and Dangerous Playground Equipment Injuries On home playgrounds, swings cause the most injuries. On any playground, manufacturer error and liability may play a part in childhood injuries. Manufacturers and distributers must ensure the products they release to the public are safe for use.
What can cause injuries when playing outside?
4 Injuries to Watch for While Playing OutsideSprains. Sprains in the ankle are the most common type of injury on both the playground and in athletics. ... Repetitive Motion Injuries. ... Heat-Related Illness. ... Growth Plate Injuries.
What is the most common cause of injury on a playground?
We know that the most common cause of playground injuries are falls from equipment (for example, climbers, monkey bars, slides). However, injury also results when children are struck by moving objects (for example, swings) or strangle either through head entrapment or as the result of clothing caught in equipment.
What are the most common playground accidents?
The most common playground-related cause of childhood emergency room visits is falling from the equipment to the ground. Children fall because they slip, lose their grip, or lose their balance while playing on monkey bars, swings, slides, merry-go-rounds, and see-saws.
What are common playground hazards?
A CPSI identifies public playground hazards (entrapment, entanglement, crush and shear, protrusions, tripping ), ranks hazards according to injury potential, and helps clients to prioritize repairs and removals and to routinely inspect their playground equipment in order to reduce debilitating and life-threatening ...
What are three potential hazards that could occur in a school playground?
The following hazards provide a brief overview of what to look out for in any playground or play area:Hard surfaces under equipment.Inadequate falling space/impact area and playground surfacing.Lack of maintenance, broken or faulty equipment.Inadequate supervision.Potential entrapment.Pinch points and sharp edges.More items...
What age group has the highest rate of playground injuries?
ages 5 to 9Groups at Risk Children ages 5 to 9 have higher rates of emergency department visits for playground injuries than any other age group. Most of these injuries occur at school (Phelan 2001).
How can playground injuries be prevented?
Use playground equipment properly:Always swing sitting down.Allow only one person on a swing at a time.Wait your turn on the slide.Sit on the slide, and slide on your bottom only.Use monkey bars for climbing only — not acrobatics.Don't jump for a distance from the swings or other equipment.
How many playground injuries are there?
An estimated 500,000 children under the age of 14 sustain injuries on playgrounds every year; 100,000 to 200,000 of these injuries require emergency-room care.
How can you prevent injuries during outdoor activities?
Make the Most of Summer: 8 Ways to Avoid Injuries During Outdoor ActivitiesStretch Before Outdoor Activities. ... Gear Up for Extra Safety. ... Go Slow When Starting New Summer Sports. ... Take a Break from Training and Exercise. ... Hydrate Whenever You're in Warm Weather. ... Prioritize Rest (Even if You Don't Feel Tired)More items...•
What are common playground hazards?
A CPSI identifies public playground hazards (entrapment, entanglement, crush and shear, protrusions, tripping ), ranks hazards according to injury potential, and helps clients to prioritize repairs and removals and to routinely inspect their playground equipment in order to reduce debilitating and life-threatening ...
What are the dangers of a playground?
The following hazards provide a brief overview of what to look out for in any playground or play area:Hard surfaces under equipment.Inadequate falling space/impact area and playground surfacing.Lack of maintenance, broken or faulty equipment.Inadequate supervision.Potential entrapment.Pinch points and sharp edges.More items...
What are potential hazards that could occur in a school playground?
Potential entrapment hazards. Pinch points and sharp edges. Protrusions and tangling hazards. High platforms without barriers.
What are the possible hazards in and early child care facility?
Common Safety Hazards in Child Care FacilitiesFalling Objects. Kids are curious and sometimes rambunctious. ... Choking. Food and small objects present a choking hazard for children, especially infants and toddlers. ... Old Playground Equipment. ... Inadequate Supervision. ... Poorly Trained Staff. ... Neglect. ... Unsanitary Environment.
Current Trends Playground-Related Injuries in Preschool-Aged Children ...
Current Trends Playground-Related Injuries in Preschool-Aged Children -- United States, 1983-1987 . Most preschool-aged children with injuries involving school playground equipment were 3 or 4 years old and male (Table 2).
Who's Liable for Playground Injuries? Can Parents File a Claim or Lawsuit?
Every year more than 200,000 children under the age of 14 are treated in emergency rooms for playground injuries.¹ Jungle gyms and swings contribute to most playground injuries, and playgrounds in low-income neighborhoods have more maintenance-related hazards than in other communities.² Sometimes when our kids get hurt, it’s purely accidental.
Playground Accidents and Children Injuries Statistics | TJH Law
Children love playgrounds- a magical place where they can get away from the pressures of pre-school, let their imaginations roam, and play uninhibited with their friends. Parents also love playgrounds- they are a perfect outlet for a kid’s high energy, promote healthy social interaction, and provide hours of free entertainment.
How to increase supervision in the playground?
Increased supervision on the playground directly relates to increased safety and fewer injuries. Design your play area so that it is easy for caregivers to observe children at play. Position supervisors so they can immediately respond to emergencies. Make sure that elevated play equipment is supervised at all times.
What is entrapment in play equipment?
Entrapment in openings: Children often enter enclosed openings on play equipment feet first and try to slide through the opening. Even if the opening is large enough to allow the child’s body to pass through, it may entrap the child's head.
How to make sure kids are not cutting their fingers?
Inspect play equipment to make sure that there are no sharp edges or points that could cut a child. Check moving components, such as suspension bridges, track rides, merry-go-rounds, seesaws, and some swings, to make sure that there are no moving parts or mechanisms that might crush a child’s fingers.
How high should a slide be in a use zone?
Some equipment (slides between 6 and 8 feet high and swing sets) needs a larger use zone.
What is the dirty dozen?
Playground safety: The dirty dozen. The National Playground Safety Institute (NSPI) has identified 12 of the leading causes of injuries on playgrounds, which they. call the “Dirty Dozen.”.
Written by OwnPlayground Team
Do you want your children to grow up safely? Well, a common playground in many countries can be quite dangerous. Being aware of the most common injuries and how to avoid them is the key to keep your kids in good health.
Common Types of Playground Injuries
Although most injuries sustained on playgrounds are minor, some are more severe and life-threatening. Bruises, minor bumps, and cuts are some of the minor accidents that kids experience while playing.
Ways to Prevent Playground Injuries
Now that you understand the common types of playground injuries and their causes, let us discuss some of the measures that can be taken to minimize the risk and ensure your kids are safe.
Summary
There is nothing more enjoyable for your kid than a playground. A good playground offers your little one a perfect platform to try out a lot of things and explore their imagination. However, playground injuries are quite common, and parents need to be aware of safety hazards.
How many children are injured in playgrounds?
Every year, thousands of children are injured on playgrounds. Even though playgrounds are designed to provide the optimal amount of enjoyment for the children while posing the minimal amount of potential danger, accidents are still bound to occur. Playgrounds have been known to cause injuries of all kinds, ranging from the non-serious, such as bruises, scratches, and minor cuts, to the more severe, such as broken and dislocated bones, internal bleeding, and brain trauma. As always, there are ways to prevent these types of accidents, through preparation and vigilance. From the basic slides and sandboxes of old to the more advanced monkey-bar linked complexes featured in modern playgrounds, any area heavily trafficked by children needs to be monitored carefully and maintained properly.
Who Is At Fault?
If you’ve carefully gone over this material, and have done all you could do to safeguard your child, someone else may be at fault for the injury that has taken place. Has someone brought their dog to the playground, and has that dog bitten your child? Has the foreman of the playground erected faulty equipment? Did the steward of the play set improperly or negligently maintain the equipment, creating a hazardous environment? Did another child maliciously attack your child? Have school or government officials failed to hire adequately trained and properly vigilant employees to oversee their school or park playground? If you answered “yes” to any one of these questions, you may be entitled to seek restitution. Your first course of action should be securing immediate medical assistance for your child. Then read about your legal options, below.
How Can Playground Injuries be Prevented?
Many playground injuries are preventable. As a parent, it is important to inspect the equipment for visible hazards such as open S hooks , rust, or other defects. Additionally, all equipment should be used properly – this means one person on a swing at a time, waiting for turns on slides, not jumping from the equipment, and avoiding pushing or roughhousing on the equipment. Appropriate clothing should also be worn, avoiding items or jewelry (especially necklaces) that could get caught up in the equipment. Younger children should also be properly supervised at all times – it only takes a fleeting moment for a life-changing accident to occur.
How old are kids when they get injured in the playground?
Over half of all playground-related injuries are suffered by children between the ages of five and nine. Many of these injuries occur on play equipment in schoolyards. The most common injuries are to a child’s hand or arm. Children under the age of four are more likely to suffer head and face injuries.
Why is it important to have a playground?
However, when children are testing their physical limits by climbing, jumping, swinging, or sliding, accidents could occur. When the playground equipment is defective or in disrepair, the danger to children increases.
Why do kids get injured in jungle gyms?
However, many injuries occur when a child is not physically capable of safely navigating the various challenges. A lack of parental supervision is a common factor in jungle gym injuries.
What age group is the most likely to have a child's injury?
46% of injuries are to children between the ages of 10 and 14.
Why do people wear rings?
However, many children lack the proper upper body strength to use rings safely. When someone lacks the skill or strength to properly use rings, they could easily fall and injure their head, neck, or back.
Is a merry go round dangerous?
Believe it or not, merry-go-rounds are one of the most dangerous rides for young children. These large rides spin around, potentially causing severe injuries to a child who falls from a horse or other apparatus. Some merry-go-rounds include equipment that allows children to spin around. If spun too fast, a child could be thrown from the ride.
What is the leading cause of playground injuries?
Improper FallZone surfacing material under playground equipment is the leading cause of playground related injuries. Over seventy percent of all accidents on playgrounds are from children falling. Hard surfaces such as concrete, blacktop, packed earth or grass are not acceptable under play equipment.
How big should an opening be on a playground?
Generally, there should be no openings on playground equipment that measure between three and one half inches and nine inches.
How far should a fall zone be from a slide?
2. Inadequate Fall Zone A fall zone or use zone is under the area under and around the playground equipment where a child might fall. A fall zone should be covered with protective surfacing material and extend a minimum of six feet in all directions from the edge of stationary play equipment such as climbers and chin up bars. The fall zone at the bottom or exit area of a slide should extend a minimum of six feet from the end of the slide for slides four feet or less in height. For slides higher than four feet, take the entrance height of the slide and add four feet to determine how far the surfacing should extend from the end of the slide. Swings require a much greater area for the fall zone: The fall zone should extend two times the height of the pivot or swing hanger in front of and behind the swings seats. The fall zone should also extend six feet to the side of the support structure.
What equipment is not allowed on public playgrounds?
• Free swinging ropes that may fray or form a loop. • Swinging exercise rings and trapeze bars are considered athletic equipment and not recommended for public playgrounds. Overhead hanging rings that have a short amount of chain and are intended for use as a ring trek (generally four to eight rings) are allowed on public playground equipment. If any of the “Dirty Dozen” playground hazards are present, you should inform the owner or operator of the unsafe conditions. provided by FallZone Safety Surfacing www.fallzonesafetysurfacing.com
What are protrusion and entanglement hazards?
Protrusion & Entanglement Hazards A protrusion hazard is a component or piece of hardware that might be capable of impaling or cutting a child if a child should fall against the hazard. Some protrusions are also capable of catching strings or items of clothing which might be worn around a child’s neck. This type of entanglement is especially hazardous because it might result in strangulation. Examples of protrusion and entanglement hazards include bolt ends that extend more than two threads beyond the face of the nut, hardware configurations that form a hook or leave a gap or space between components and open “S” type hooks. Rungs or handholds that protrude outward from a support structure may be capable of penetrating the eye socket. Special attention should be paid to the area at the top of slides and sliding devices. Ropes should be anchored securely at both ends and not be capable of forming a loop or a noose.
How far should a slide extend from the end of the slide?
The fall zone at the bottom or exit area of a slide should extend a minimum of six feet from the end of the slide for slides four feet or less in height. For slides higher than four feet, take the entrance height of the slide and add four feet to determine how far the surfacing should extend from the end of the slide.
What are trip hazards?
Trip Hazards Trip hazards are created by play structure components or items on the playground. Exposed concrete footings, abrupt changes in surface elevations, containment borders, tree roots, tree stumps and rocks are all common trip hazards that are often found in play environment.
Which playground is responsible for the most injuries?
On home playgrounds, swings are responsible for most injuries (Tinsworth 2001).
How often do girls get injured on the playground?
While all children who use playgrounds are at risk for injury, girls sustain injuries (55%) slightly more often than boys (45%) (Tinsworth 2001).
How many children died from playground injuries in 2000?
Most occur at schools and daycare centers (Phelan 2001). Between 1990 and 2000, 147 children ages 14 and younger died from playground-related injuries.