Danger at Play

The playground is one of the places where children get to be children--and have fun. Unfortunately, it’s also a place where many kids get hurt. According to the National Program for Playground Safety, childhood playground injuries reported in the United States have more than doubled in the past two decades, from 93,000 in 1977 to 200,000 in 1994.

The program also offers these statistics:

* One child in the U.S. is injured every 2 1/2 minutes on playground equipment.

* The top three culprits are swings, climbers (monkey bars, overhead ladders, rings) and slides.

* Falls to the playground surface contribute to 70% of the injuries.

* Head and face injuries account for almost 60% of injuries to children up to 4.

* Arm and hand injuries account for about 43% of injuries to children 5 to 14.

* The top five diagnosed playground injuries are: fractures; lacerations; contusions and abrasions; strains and sprains; and internal injury.

* Severe injuries (such as fracture, internal injury, concussion, dislocation, amputation and crushing) account for 35% of all playground injuries.