Most Common Playground Related Injuries of Children

Author: Austin Stanfel

One of the factors why children seldom play outdoors is that they can experience injuries and accidents in playgrounds. Unsafe playground equipment continues to be a major problem for many parents and children, and this is why most of them just prefer playing computer games while sitting on a couch.

Here are some of the most common injuries that occur in a playground.

1. Falls – This usually causes about 75% of the injuries because of the unsafe ground surfaces below slides and swings. Some of the injuries or more specifically, 9 out of 10 of them are fractures and head injuries caused by falls to concrete, grassy land, and hard rocks. These might even escalate to death if there’s no first aid available.

2. Impact with Moving Equipment – Most of the playground equipment is made of steel and other hard materials. These materials might have sharp objects, protrusions, hot surfaces, pinch points, and debris that can injure children who are just having a great time. These can be dangerous because someone who is running might accidentally collide with the protruding steel and get hurt in the process.

Other factors that contribute to a dangerous playground are equipment failures, moving pieces of equipment, tip-overs, and strangulations. There are scenarios where children get entangled on swings, and this results in fatalities. There are also scenarios where kids who are wearing thick clothing get caught up on the side portion of a slide causing them to fall accidentally.

Some of the mittens, hoods, jacket strings, clothing scarves, and a lot more can become entangled within narrow gaps and poorly built equipment. There are also S hooks that can cause strangulation for many toddlers.

There are also instances where leashes, ropes, and cords accidentally get caught on the child’s clothing causing them to be hanged on monkey bars. The fatalities can be endless, as well as the injuries. The average age of victims ranges from 4 to 6 years old.

Not All of the Playground Have Horror Stories

The above may seem frightening, especially to parents. However, with the right playground equipment that is designed for children of all ages, you should not be worried about accidents while your children are playing outdoors. They can simply land on soft peat if they fall from swings or ladders. The equipment used should be lined by soft covers in order for children to become more comfortable in their environment. (https://fernandez-vega.com) S hooks or ropes that are not in place with the right equipment should be avoided. Children who like to climb on monkey bars should not find the handle too hot to help prevent falls. The right handlebar can provide a more comfortable grip for most children over the age of five.

If you want to know more about where you can get the right equipment, you only have to contact the experts in your area. You should be able to tell them your needs and wants when it comes to a proper playground that you have in mind.