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A descriptive analysis of children's playground injuries in the United States 1990-4
M G Mack1, S Hudson, D Thompson
1National Program for Playground Safety, University of Northern Iowa, School of Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Services, Cedar Falls 50614-0161, USA.
Objectives:
To review playground injury statistics over a five year period in order to develop an awareness of how and where children in the United States are being injured.
Methods:
All data are based on the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) for playground related injuries during 1990-4. The surveillance data includes injuries recorded in more than 90 hospital emergency departments located throughout the United States.
Results:
Each year there are roughly 211,000 preschool or elementary school-children in the United States who receive emergency department care for injuries associated with playground equipment. On average, 17 of these cases result in death. 70% of all injuries occur on public playgrounds, with nearly one third classified as severe. Swings, climbers, and slides are the pieces of playground equipment associated with 88% of all NEISS reported injuries. Falls to the surface are responsible for 70%.
Conclusions:
NEISS playground injury statistics contribute to our understanding of playground injuries. By identifying where and how children are injured, suggestions can be made in an attempt to make playgrounds safer.
