Playgrounds at schools and public parks give children an opportunity to socialize and exercise. They are also a potential source of risk. Children who get too wild can injure themselves, and poor facility maintenance may increase that risk.
The injuries that children sustain on playgrounds may require medical attention and could even force parents to take time off work to act as caregivers. What injuries are common on playgrounds?
1. Broken bones
Many types of playground equipment encourage children to jump or balance. A child who falls off of a slide or jumps off a swing could break a bone. Fractures can be expensive, especially if they produce growth plate damage.
2. Tetanus from wounds
Playgrounds can expose children to a variety of pathogens, including the toxin-producing bacteria that cause tetanus. Tetanus can be a severe, even life-threatening medical condition. With vaccination rates on the decline, there’s reason to worry about children developing tetanus due to playground injuries that break the skin.
3. Traumatic brain injuries
When children fall, they might hit their heads. In fact, children don’t need to fall to be at risk of sustaining a brain injury on a playground.
Children playing tag or hide-and-seek might not watch where they go as they run. They could end up colliding with the poles that support playground equipment, resulting in blunt-force trauma to the head. Traumatic brain injuries can cause lifelong symptoms in moderate to severe cases.
Parents trying to cover the cost of recent playground injuries may need help exploring their options. Filing a personal injury lawsuit can potentially help cover medical costs and even lost wages if parents must stay home to act as caregivers.