U.S. Consumer ProductSafety Commissionnew playground equipment report

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Homeowner liability

Insurance Information Instituterecommends

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Where playground injuries happen

  1. Home (66%)
  2. Restaurant (26%)
  3. Park (3%)
  4. School (2%)
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Playground fatalities

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Neck & head injuries

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Play equipment causing injuries

  1. Monkey bars or playground gyms (34%)
  2. Swings or swing sets (25%)
  3. Slides or sliding boards (21%)
  4. Other playground equipment (9%)
  5. Not specified (9%)
  6. Seesaws or teeter totters (2%)
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Injuries from playground equipment

  1. Fractures (34%)
  2. Contusions and abrasions (17%)
  3. Lacerations (15%)
  4. Strains and sprains (13%)
  5. Internal organ injuries (9%)
  6. Other/not stated (6%)
  7. Concussions (2%)
  8. Dislocation (1%)
  9. Dental injuries (1%)
  10. Hematomas (1%)
  1. Arm (41%)
  2. Head (18%)
  3. Leg (16%)
  4. Face (15%)
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Playground safety tips

  • Always supervise kids, and make sure kids use playgroundequipment appropriate for their age.
  • Never attach ropes, jump ropes, pet leashes or strings toplayground equipment; children can strangle on these.
  • Make sure children's clothing does not have any drawstrings asthey can catch on slides and other equipment.
  • Make sure surfaces around playgrounds have 9-12 inches of woodchips, mulch, sand, pea gravel, or mats made of safety-testedrubber.
  • Check that protective surfacing extends at least six feet inall directions from play equipment. For swings, be sure surfacingextends, in back and front, twice the height of the suspending bar.Look out for tripping hazards, like exposed concrete footings, treestumps, and rocks.
  • Don't let kids play on slides/surfaces that are burning hot.The weather does not have be 100 degrees in order for equipment toheat up and cause burns. If it feels hot to your hand, it may betoo hot for a child's bare skin!

See also:

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