PLAYGROUND ACCIDENTS

To study the causes and sequelae of playground accidents we analysed, in a retrospective study, 374 playground accidents. Questionnaires wer e sent to the parents and 103 parents (28%) provided detailed informat ion 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 t he 338 playground equipment-related accidents, whereas 36 accidents (1 0%) occurred without the use of playground equipment. The majority of these accidents were caused by children fighting. Rope-plank-type swin gs were frequently involved in backward falling accidents and 86% of t he slide accidents were fall accidents. Climbing frames should not be taller than 1.6 m. Further efforts are mandatory to create and maintai n playgrounds which help children develop their skills with a minimal risk to injury.