Are current playground safety standards adequate for preventing arm fractures?
Sherker S; Ozanne-Smith J Accident Research Centre, Building 70, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia. ShaunaSherker@yahoo.com.au OBJECTIVE: To assess compliance with current standards of playgrounds where children have sustained a fall-related arm fracture. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Between October 2000 and December 2002, a consecutive prospective series of 402 children aged under 13 years who fell from playground equipment and sustained an arm fracture was identified by emergency department staff in five Victorian hospitals. Trained field testers measured playground equipment height, surface type and depth, and surface impact attenuation factors to determine compliance with safety standards. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Playground compliance with current Australian safety standards. RESULTS: Ninety-eight percent of playgrounds had a recommended type of surface material. The mean surface depth was 11.1 cm (SD, 5.0 cm) and the mean equipment height was 2.04 m (SD, 0.43 m
