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Children, Summercamp and Playground Accidents:
Each year in the United States, emergency departments treat more than 200,000 children ages 14 and younger for playground-related injuries (Tinsworth 2001).
Occurrence and Consequences
- About 45% of playground-related injuries are severe—fractures, internal injuries, concussions, dislocations, and amputations (Tinsworth 2001).
- About 75% of nonfatal injuries related to playground equipment occur on public playgrounds (Tinsworth 2001). Most occur at schools and daycare centers (Phelan 2001).
- Between 1990 and 2000, 147 children ages 14 and younger died from playground-related injuries. Of them, 82 (56%) died from strangulation and 31 (20%) died from falls to the playground surface. Most of these deaths (70%) occurred on home playgrounds (Tinsworth 2001).
In 1995 alone, playground-related injuries among children ages 14 and younger cost an estimated $1.2 billion (Office of Technology Assessment 1995). Data suggests that while all children who use playgrounds are at risk for injury, girls sustain injuries (55%) slightly more often than boys (45%) (Tinsworth 2001).
In addition, children ages 5 to 9 have higher rates of emergency department visits for playground injuries than any other age group. Most of these injuries occur at school (Phelan 2001).
Is your child at Risk?
Child Injury Risk Factors, Playgrounds
- On public playgrounds, more injuries occur on climbers than on any other equipment (Tinsworth 2001).
- On home playgrounds, swings are responsible for most injuries (Tinsworth 2001).
A study in New York City found that playgrounds in low-income areas had more maintenance-related hazards than playgrounds in high-income areas. For example, playgrounds in low-income areas had significantly more trash, rusty play equipment, and damaged fall surfaces (Suecoff 1999).
Prevention Strategies
Many injuries are the result of failure of adult supervision of children on playgrounds. Failure to educate the public about age-appropriate playground equipment. Failure to build playgrounds with surfaces—such as shredded rubber, wood chips, wood fiber, and sand—that reduce injuries related to falls (Mack et al. 2000). Often, injuries could be prevented simply by improving maintenance of equipment and surfacing.
If your child has been injured do to the negligence of another, please fill out the form below to contact an attorney. A personal injury lawyer will review your claim and may contact you to discuss your legal rights. There is no charge or obligation for this free evaluation.
Injured Person Information:
Accident / Injury Information:
Case Description*
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as thoroughly as possible who you believe was responsible
and why you believe that person was negligent:
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