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Kentucky Child Accident Attorney Addresses Playground Safety

Posted on Apr 21, 2010

As a child there are few things more exciting than getting to the best playground in your neighborhood. When you your children get there it is a hard decision deciding what structure to play on first; they could go to the swings if there was one open. The sliding board is always a favorite, the higher the better. The seesaw is fun as are the monkey bars. What is the farthest idea in their mind is playground safety.

April 26th-30th is National Playground Safety Awareness Week. Initially I didn’t think that playground safety was a big issue. The Center for Disease Control has shown that each year the emergency rooms across the country treat more than 200,000 children for playground related injuries.

The Center for Disease Control has also reported that 75 percent of the injuries occur on public playgrounds. The injuries range from severe fractures, internal injuries, concussions, dislocations and amputations. There have also been several reports of deaths resulting from accidents on playgrounds. Over 50 percent of these deaths are caused by strangulation and 20 percent are caused from falls.

It is easy to assume that playgrounds and their surroundings are safe for our kids. As parents, grandparents or babysitters it is a good idea to always check the playground for safety measures:

·    Check the surface under the structures for softness as well as temperatures, particularly in the summer
·    If the structure is wood check for smoothness and potential splinters
·    Check for loose joints, exposed bolts and screws, sharp edges and rust
·    If the playground is close to a ball field it is a good idea to watch for errant balls.
·    In the area around the playground be on the look out for hidden dangers. These dangers could be broken glass or leftover construction material

Always supervise your children and be aware of the surroundings. Trips to the emergency room with your children are physically as well as emotionally exhausting. Have fun and be safe.