Preventing playground injuries

Question 1

How many children <15yo receive treatment for playground injuries in hospital ED each year in Canada?

Answer 1

29 000

Question 2

What are the most common mechanisms of injury on the playground?

Answer 2

79% falling
11% impact with an obstacle
8% body part being cut, pinched, or crushed
1% entrapment

Question 3

What is the most common type of injury?

Answer 3

Fractures of an upper limb

Question 4

How many children are hospitalized each year for serious injuries from playground falls?

Answer 4

2500

Question 5

What percentage of all play area injuries are due to backyard play equipment?

Answer 5

20%

Question 6

What is the most common cause of playground deaths?

Answer 6

Strangulation

Question 7

What are the recommendations by the Canadian Standards Association for playground design?

Answer 7

1. Reducing he maximum fall height of equipment. Strategies include:
   a) innovative designs for new equipment at lower heights
   b) using age-appropriate equipment.
2. Reducing the risk of falling from equipment. Some examples:
   a) protective barriers and guardrails
   b) using vertical rather than horizontal bars (to discourage climbing)
   c) using peaked or curved surfaces for guardrails (to discourage their use as play surfaces).
3. Improving protective surfacing under and around play equipment. Appropriate surfaces include:
   a) loose fill, such as coarse sand or pea gravel (smooth, round, pea-sized stones), wood chips and synthetic surfaces, to depths of at least 15 cm (6 in) for preschool equipment and 30 cm (12 in) for full-sized equipment.

Question 8

What is the reduction in associated injuries by adhering to CSA standards?

Answer 8

49%

Question 9

What is important to prevent injury?

Answer 9

Active supervision

Question 10

What are the CPS recommendations for HCP to prevent playground injuries?

Answer 10

1. Offer anticipatory guidance about playground injuries and what parents can do to reduce children’s risk. SafeKids Canada and the Canadian Paediatric Society have evidence-based information and resources on making playgrounds safer, for families, child care providers and communities.
2. Report playground injuries to local playground operators and authorities.
3. Educate playground operators about injury prevention by being involved with municipal planning and public health initiatives. A participating physician or health care professional can bring credibility to safety issues and provide specific details about the nature and risk of playground injuries.
4. Advocate that new and existing playgrounds in the community be designed or upgraded to meet current CSA guidelines.

Question 11

What are the CPS recommendations for policy makers to prevent playground injuries?

Answer 11

Ensure that municipal policies on playground development and maintenance focus on compliance with CSA standards and reflect evidence-informed strategies to reduce playground-related injuries in children.

Question 12

What are the CPS recommendations for parents and caregivers to prevent playground injuries?

Answer 12

1. Provide active supervision.
2. Teach and model playground safety rules, and remind children how to use equipment safely.
3. Check local playground equipment and surfacing regularly, reporting problems to operators.
   a) Dress children in a neck warmer instead of a scarf in cold weather, and avoid clothing with drawstrings or cords. These items can catch on playground equipment and cause strangulation.
   b) Remove a child’s helmet before permitting access to play equipment.
   c) Build home playgrounds to meet the CSA standards.