Playgrounds and active play are an important part of childhood. Unfortunately, many injuries, and some deaths, happen on playgrounds each year.

On home playgrounds, swings are responsible for most injuries. On public playgrounds, more injuries happen on climbers than on any other equipment.

Falls cause the majority of playground problems. There are specific actions that can reduce the chances of a fall causing serious injury.

Another major cause of playground tragedies is strangulation. Safe equipment can help prevent this.

• Check playgrounds regularly for sharp edges or broken or missing parts, and make needed repairs promptly.
• Protruding bolts or open S hooks can catch clothing or drawstrings on clothing and capture a child.
• Spaces between openings in guardrails or ladders should measure less than 3.5 inches or more than 9 inches to prevent entrapment.

Detailed information about playground safety can be found in the following documents: