What Causes Playground Injuries

The U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has long recognized the potential hazards that exist with the use ofplayground equipment, with over 200,000
estimated emergency room treated injuries annually. The most recent study of 2,691 playground equipment-related incidents reported to the CPSC from 2001-2008
indicated that falls are the most common hazard pattern (44% of injuries) followed by equipment related hazards, such as breakage, tip over,design, and
assembly (23%). Other hazard patterns involved entrapment and colliding other children or stationary equipment. Playground related deaths reported to the
Commission involved entanglement of ropes, leashes, or clothing; falls; and impact from equipment tip over or structural failure.The recommendations in
this handbook have been developed to address the hazards that resulted in playground-related injuries and deaths. The recommendations include those that
address:
• The potential for falls from and impact with equipment
• The need for impact attenuating protective surfacing under and around equipment
• Openings with the potential for head entrapment
• The scale of equipment and other design features related to user age and layout of equipment on a playground
• Installation and maintenance procedures
• General hazards presented by protrusions, sharp edges,and crush or shear points

Source: 1.7 Playground Injuries
Public Playground Safety Handbook - CPSC Publication 325
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission