Playground accidents

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Abstract
To study the causes and sequelae of playground accidents we analysed, in a retrospective study, 374 playground accidents. Questionnaires were sent to the parents and 103 parents (28%) provided detailed information on the playground accidents of their children. Thirty-one percent of the children injured in playground accidents sustained fractures of the extremities or concussion of the brain. Swings, slides, climbing frames, metal bars and merry-go-round accidents accounted for 71% of the 338 playground equipment-related accidents, whereas 36 accidents (10%) occurred without the use of playground equipment. The majority of these accidents were caused by children fighting. Rope-plank-type swings were frequently involved in backward falling accidents and 86% of the slide accidents were fall accidents. Climbing frames should not be taller than 1.6 m. Further efforts are mandatory to create and maintain playgrounds which help children develop their skills with a minimal risk to injury.