Avoid Playground Injuries This Summer

Every child looks forward eagerly to the end of the school year, and the start of summer vacation. Playgrounds can be a wonderful place for children to develop dexterity, make new friends, and explore inventive ideas for creative play.

Like any other physical exercise, playground activities also carry a risk of injury. Mishaps range from minor cuts and bruises to more serious fractures and life-threatening harm. Every year, the Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than 156,000 children under the age of 14 are treated in hospital emergency rooms for playground injuries. Approximately 45 percent of these injuries are severe, including:

• Fractures
• Internal injuries
• Concussions
• Dislocations
• Amputations

With awareness, caution, and a few preventative measures, many of these accidents can be avoided. Most injuries happen around climbing equipment and swings. Let’s start by understanding what the most common injuries are, and how they typically happen.

• Falls. Almost 80 percent of equipment-related accidents on the playground happen when children fall. They may slip, lose their grip, lose their balance, or catch clothing, a shoelace, or a drawstring on equipment as they play. Children can be hurt not only by impact with the ground, but also by being struck by other equipment as they fall. The injury that most frequently leads to an emergency room visit is an elbow fracture as children reach out instinctively to try to break their fall and protect themselves.

• Slides. Slide injuries are frequent, and typically happen when a child’s leg is caught or twisted during the ride down the slide. A 2009 study emphasized the need for caution when adults ride down a slide with a child in their lap. Children’s legs can become stuck during the slide descent when it is difficult for the adult to stop moving.

• Equipment impact. Other injuries are the result of children falling on or being hit by sharp equipment edges. These injuries can happen when a child is playing in a jungle gym, or on teeter-totters and seesaws.

The best way to prevent or minimize these injuries is through attentive adult supervision. Check the playground for hazards, accompany young children as they play, and help them understand playground rules and equipment use.

Summit Orthopedics supports healthy communities

Community health flourishes when specialized orthopedic care is conveniently available close to home. Summit Orthopedics is proud of our fellowship-trained subspecialty teams offering the full spectrum of orthopedic expertise in bone, tendon, ligament, muscle, and joint conditions—in addition to our wellness, prevention, and rehabilitation services. We have the expertise to proactively improve fitness, evaluate discomfort, and deliver personalized treatment to quickly and safely return you to the lifestyle you love.

Start your journey to a healthier, more active self. Visit our Facebook page to learn about our wellness services and schedule a free wellness consultation online. Find your orthopedic expert, request an appointment online, or call us at (651) 968–5201 to schedule a consultation.

Summit has convenient locations across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin. We have state-of-the-art centers for comprehensive orthopedic care in Eagan, MN, Plymouth, MN, Vadnais Heights, MN, and Woodbury, MN, as well as additional community clinics throughout the metro and southern Minnesota.

More resources for you

• Playground Safety QUICKGuide
• Playground Inspections Prevent Injuries

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