There are few things children love more than visiting a playground on a nice summer’s day. However, playground injuries account for hundreds of thousands of emergency room visits each year.
Swinging and sliding, while fun activities, may lead to sprains, strains, cuts, bruises and even concussions. Broken fingers, twisted wrists and ankles, dislocated elbows, and head injuries are commonly associated with falls, sometimes because of faulty playground equipment.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, nearly half of playground injuries are severe, as fractures, dislocations, concussions, internal injuries and amputations are the cause of about 45 percent of these hospital visits. In a 10-year period, 147 children under the age of 14 died from playground-related injuries, mostly from falls and strangulation.
Before you cancel your afternoon playground trip, however, understand that these statistics do not mean playgrounds are inherently dangerous for children. What typically causes playground injuries is the tendency of children — and even parents — to ignore or dismiss basic safety rules. In fact, about 70 percent of all deaths occurred at home playgrounds, not those at public parks or schools.
Even for a home playground, equipment manufacturers usually provide specific guidelines for assembly and use. Children should not go down the slide on the lap of a parent, for example, which is one of the leading causes of fractures. Slides are designed to be used feet first and single file, and swings are not intended to go above a certain height.
In some situations, injuries sustained on a public or private playground may be serious enough to require medical attention, and your family may need to take legal action against equipment manufacturers, public agencies or other parties. Consult a trusted Chicago personal injury attorney to learn more.