How many kids die on playgrounds annually?
A Consumer Product Safety Commission Study from 1990-2000 found 57 deaths on playground equipment at playgrounds. The study also cited approximately 200,000 injuries to children annually, but notes that more than 20 percent of those injuries occurred on equipment at home, not on playgrounds. Most of these injuries are due to falls. By contrast, more children are injured in motor vehicle accidents (214,000) bicycle accidents (285,600) and accidental poisoning (1,054,000) each year. Lack of supervision on playgrounds is associated with injuries. Studies have also shown that injuries decrease on playground equipment that has been updated to meet safety standards. (The effect of safer play equipment on playground injury rates among school children. CMAJ, May 24, 2005).
