Patterns of injuries to children on public playgrounds.

Abstract

The incidence and pattern of injuries to children in public playgrounds presenting to the accident and emergency department were reviewed over two six month summer periods in Cardiff. A total of 178 children (mean age 7'5 years) attended with a playground injury representing 1.01% of all the children attending.One hundred and five children fell from equipment, of which the commonest was the climbing frame; 125 children had playground surface related injuries, 86 on bark and 30 on concrete. The pattern of injuries on the playground surfaces was different: fractures and sprains were more common on bark surfaces and lacerations and abrasions on concrete surfaces. Comparison of total injury rates showed there were fewer injuries on modernised playgrounds than expected but these differences were not significant. Modernised playgrounds are more popular, have new exciting equipment, and offer good play opportunities for children. However, the high fracture rate on modernised bark playgrounds is concerning and requires further research.

The effect of safer play equipment on playground injury rates among school children

“…Of all playground injuries that result in a visit to a hospital emergency department, 27%-40% are fractures and 17% require hospital admissiona greater frequency of admission than that associated with any other cause of pediatric injury except traffic. [1][2][3][4] The results of an observational study in Wales showed that 90% of all playground injuries resulting in a visit to an emergency department were related to the playground equipment. 1 As might be expected, playgrounds are the location within elementary schools with the highest injury rates and the most severe injuries.…”

“…[1][2][3][4] The results of an observational study in Wales showed that 90% of all playground injuries resulting in a visit to an emergency department were related to the playground equipment. 1 As might be expected, playgrounds are the location within elementary schools with the highest injury rates and the most severe injuries. 5 In a study conducted in Kingston, Ont., children were 12 times more likely to be injured in school playgrounds than in municipal playgrounds.…”

A Comparison of New York City Playground Hazards in High- and Low-Income Areas

“…Unfortunately, playgrounds are not hazard free. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] From 1983 to 1987, approximately 305 000 preschool children (ages 1-4 years) in the United States sought care in emergency departments for injuries involving playground equipment. Playground equipment was associated with 994 678 injuries among all age groups during the same period.…”

“…Playground equipment was associated with 994 678 injuries among all age groups during the same period. 9 Several studies [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] have investigated the causes of playground injuries. Sacks et al 5 studied child care centers in Atlanta, Ga, and found that the likelihood of a playground-related, medically attended injury increased as the number of identified playground hazards increased.…”

The Children’s Playgrounds in Apartments and Terrace Housing Areas: Places of Leisure or Failure?

“…A study in Wales showed that 90% of all playground injuries resulting a visit to an emergency department were related to playground equipment (Mott et al, 1994). In New Zealand annually, about 7400 children aged less than 15 years old seek for treatments from the emergency departments (Chalmers et al, 1996).…”