Playground Injury Attorneys: Be Safe and Have Fun

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), at least 200,000 children age 14 or younger are treated in emergency rooms each year for playground injuries. More than 10 percent of these are traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and the rate of TBIs is rising. You should Work With NH Playground Injury Attorneys if You Have a Claim.

Because public playgrounds are numerous and easily accessible, most kids spend their time on these rather than private playgrounds. Thus, the largest percentage of playground injuries take place on public facilities. In fact, it is estimated that seventy-five percent of playground injuries take place on public playgrounds. Monkey bars and climbing equipment are responsible for the highest number of injuries.

But despite the risks, we know kids love playgrounds and benefit from the exercise and social interaction. The good news: Adults can play a key role in keeping kids safe on their favorite playgrounds with these tips and resources:

Keep Your Kids Safe With These Tips

Here are four top risks that cause playground injuries. Click for full size.

Areas underneath the equipment, known as fall surfaces, should be made of soft material such as wood chips, mulch, sand or rubber.
Inspect equipment for any piece (especially metal) that may be hot from the sun.
Watch for hazards or protrusions like bolts, hooks, stumps or rocks that could trip or cut children.
Look for neglected maintenance, such as rusty or broken equipment.
Make sure kids wear safe clothing. No loose scarves or hoodies with drawstrings, as these can become a strangulation hazard if entangled with equipment. Shoes should be comfortable for play and protect feet, like sneakers. Tie long hair back as well.
Make sure there are strong and sturdy guardrails to prevent falls.
Your children should be using age-appropriate equipment. Read all playground signs for warnings and instructions.
Most importantly, the best way to prevent injuries is parental supervision. Talk to your kids about appropriate playground behavior before you visit the playground and watch them while you’re there.

More Resources for Safe Playgrounds

To ensure your local playground is safe, the National Recreation and Parks Association has a network of Certified Playground Safety Inspectors (CPSI). The CPSI certification program provides comprehensive and up-to-date training on playground safety issues, including hazard identification, equipment specifications, surfacing requirements and risk management methods. To find your local CPSI, click here.

A thorough playground safety checklist and ranking tool, created by the National Program for Playground Safety, can be found here. If you see safety hazards or poorly maintained equipment, reach out to the owner as soon as possible. In most cases, this will be a school or park district.

Keeping our kids safe while out on the playground is an issue we can all get behind, and one that benefits the community as a whole. So let’s all get out there and have some fun!

Contact NH Playground Injury Attorneys

If your child has been negligently injured on a playground, it is essential that you have competent legal representation from the onset of your case through litigation. Big insurance companies have lawyers looking out for their interests and you should too! The New Hampshire playground injuries attorneys at the Law Office of Manning Zimmerman & Oliveira PLLC offer free initial consultations for NH injury victims. Call us at 603-624-7200, complete a request for a consultation on our website, or send us an email.

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