Trauma Survivors Network - provided by ATS

Survive. Connect. Rebuild.

A Program of the ATS

Playground Type

Protective surfacing under and around playground equipment can reduce the severity of and even prevent playground fall-related injuries. The risk of injury in a fall onto a non-impact absorbing surface such as asphalt or concrete is more than twice that of falling onto an impact-absorbing surface. It is estimated that only 25 percent of public playgrounds and 9 percent of home playgrounds have appropriate impact-absorbing surfacing around stationary equipment. The risk of injury is four times greater if a child falls from playground equipment that is more than 1.5 meters (approximately 5 feet) high than from equipment that is less than 1.5 meters high. A young child is at increased risk of injury when playing on equipment designed for older children. Only 42 percent of U.S. playgrounds have separate play areas for children ages 2 to 5 and children ages 5 to 12. Certain groups of children are at higher risk for playground-related injuries. Children ages 5 to 9 account for more than half of all playground-related injuries. There are certain safety laws and regulations to protect children from playground-related injury hazards.

Playground Safety
National Safety Council
www.nsc.org

Facts about Injuries to Children on Playgrounds
Safe Kids Worldwide
www.safekidsnebraska.org