playground accidents Tag

Common Summer Accidents

Summer is here and that means big changes for the flow of traffic with more teenagers and families on the roads. Increased traffic is a risk factor for car accidents on its own but when you add in additional teenage drivers who are at the highest risk for being in a car accident, summer becomes a much more dangerous time to be on the road. The fatality rate for drivers aged 16 to 19 is four times higher than that of drivers aged 25 to 69 years. Other common types of summer accidents are motorcycle accidents, swimming accidents, boating accidents, playground accidents and amusement park accidents.

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Playground Accidents and Injury Laws

More than 200,000 children aged 14 and under are treated for playground injuries every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The majority of playground injuries (55 percent) are soft tissue injuries such as minor cuts, bruising, swelling and muscle sprains. The rest are more serious injuries that include bone fractures and dislocations, internal injuries, strangulations, and eye and head trauma.

What are the Most Common Causes of Playground Accidents?

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Prevent a Playground Accident

We all grew up playing on them and as soon as our kids are old enough, we can’t wait for them to experience them, but a shocking amount of playground accidents occur every year. In 2012, more than 600,000 children were injured in a playground accident with more than 200,000 children treated in hospital emergency rooms for concussions, broken bones, amputations and dislocations. More than 70 percent of these accidents occurred on public playgrounds and most happened while using climbing equipment, slides and swings. Approximately 15 children die each year from their injuries, about half from strangulation and one-quarter from falling off of equipment. Most playground deaths occur on home-playgrounds.

Fifty-Five percent of playground injuries are sustained by girls and the majority of emergency room visits are from children ages 5 through 9. These injuries cost over $1 billion annually.

Low income neighborhoods seem to have playgrounds with more hazards such as rusty, old equipment and damaged fall surfaces.

Tips to Prevent a Playground Accident

• Remind children of safety rules before setting them free to play
  • Do not run or stand in front of moving swings or teeter-totters
  • One person on the slide at a time and slide down feet first on your bottom
  • When you get to the bottom, move away from the slide right away
• Parental supervision is the key to safety. Children under the age of five should be watched at every moment and even those who are older should be watched most of the time to prevent injuries and make sure they do not injure the smaller kids.
• Avoid playgrounds with hard landing surfaces; there should be shock-absorbing materials on the ground such as rubber mats or loose fill such as double-shredded bark mulch, engineered wood fibers, shredded rubber, sand or pea gravel with a depth of six to twelve inches.
• Make sure that there’s enough space for kids to easily get off and away from slides and other equipment if the playground is busy.
• Don’t let children crowd near exits.
• Avoid metal or wood seated swing sets. Swing seats should be made of plastic or rubber.
• Choose an age/ability-appropriate playground or area within the playground. There is plenty of time for your little one to explore new things as they get older.
• Check the handgrips on climbing devices to make sure they are firmly in place and that they are the right size for your child’s hand.
• Avoid equipment with openings that could trap your child’s head.
• Do not go down a slide with a baby or toddler in your lap.
• Check for hot equipment on sunny days. Rubber, plastic or metal can heat up and cause a burn injury.
• Remove necklaces/jewelry and drawstrings and avoid loose fitting clothing that could get caught on playground equipment. Counter to popular belief, you should not put a helmet on your child as the straps could get caught and cause serious injury.
• Ensure children are wearing proper footwear. Bare feet or flip flops do not provide adequate support.

Many playground accidents can be prevented but if your child was injured or killed on a public playground, you may have a legitimate legal claim for damages. Setup an appointment today to discuss your case with the experienced personal injury attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S.. You have enough to worry about, we are here to help!