NATIONAL PLAYGROUND SAFETY WEEK APRIL 26-30


In 2008, more than 40,000 children under 16 years of age were treated in emergency rooms due to fall-related injuries. Falls account for 80% of playground injuries and about 45% of injuries are severe, which include fractures, internal injuries, concussions, dislocations, and amputations. Safe Kids reminds parents and caregivers to:

Make sure playground equipment is inspected frequently and kept in good repair. Remove hood and neck drawstrings from children‘s clothing and outerwear and don‘t let kids wear necklaces, purses, or scarves on the playground. Don‘t allow your kids to engage in any pushing, shoving, or crowding around playground equipment. Keep toddlers under age five in a separate play area, away from equipment designed for bigger kids.

Parents and caregivers need to keep kids in sight and in reach on the playground. Kids on a playground need undivided attention. For more information on Playground Safety, visit www.safekids.org.