- Skinned knees and minor falls are familiar injuries to parents of active children, however, more serious injuries do take place. Severe fractures, internal injuries, concussions, dislocations and amputations take up 45 percent of playground injuries. These injuries often result in trips to the emergency room. The cost of these preventable injuries was approximately $1.2 billion in 1995, according to the U.S. Congress Office of Technology Assessment.
- Children come in different sizes, so it is appropriate to have different sizes of equipment for different age groups. Kids younger than age 2, between ages 2 and 5, and ages 5 to 12 years of age should have different areas of play. Guardrails should surround elevated areas. Equipment with moving parts, such as swings and merry-go-rounds, should be separated from stationary equipment. Spaces that could trap a child's body should be covered or removed from equipment.
- A soft surface is key to preventing severe injuries from playground falls. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, climbing structures on public playgrounds are where most injuries occur. Asphalt, cement and even soil are hard surfaces that do not adequately cushion a child's fall. Loose-fill surface materials such as wood chips, mulch or shredded rubber offer better protection as long as they are not packed down. There should be no standing water that could hide debris and cause a child to trip, and the ground should be free from harmful materials such as broken glass or sharp metal.
- It is up to adults to property maintain playground equipment. Frequent inspections are integral to find equipment that is broken, wood that is cracking, rust, exposed nails, sandbox debris, insecure equipment foundation and surface areas that are packed too tightly. Contact your local parks and recreation committee or proper authorities if you notice a public playground in need of attention. Low-income areas often have inadequate funding for proper maintenance. If no funding is available, try organizing a team of volunteers to clean up your neighborhood playground.
- One of the best ways to prevent childhood injury is to talk to kids about the appropriate ways to use playground equipment. Help kids realize the importance of watching for other people on the playground, not climbing over guardrails, not engaging in horseplay when using equipment and watching for slippery surfaces. Try talking to them or demonstrating proper equipment use. You can also foster good habits for years to come by teaching kids to stay hydrated and wear sunscreen.