Playground Injury Statistics

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Playground Injury Statistics

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

Playground injuries are more common than many people realize. As parents, we trust that playgrounds are safe environments for our children to explore and have fun. However, a playground injury can happen in an instant, leaving families dealing with unexpected medical bills, pain, and uncertainty about what to do next. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), each year, more than 200,000 children ages 14 and younger are treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries associated with playground equipment.

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Key data points paint a clearer picture of the risks:

• 45% of these injuries are considered severe, including fractures, internal injuries, dislocations, concussions, and even amputations.
• Each year, an average of 17 children tragically lose their lives due to playground accidents. Of these fatalities, 56% are from strangulation, and 20% are from falls.
• 75% of non-fatal playground injuries occur on public playgrounds such as those at schools and daycare centers.
• Among public playgrounds, climbers cause the most injuries.
• The most vulnerable age group is children ages 5 to 9, who visit hospital emergency departments for playground injuries more than any other age group.

These sobering statistics underscore the importance of vigilance and proper playground safety practices. However, even when parents take all the right precautions, playground injuries still happen. In some cases, these injuries are not simply accidents, they occur because of negligence, whether due to poor equipment maintenance, lack of supervision, or hazardous playground designs. 

Playground Safety Tips

Preventing playground injuries starts with proactive measures. While no parent can prevent every accident, taking extra steps to ensure a safe play environment can significantly reduce risks. Parents, caregivers, and playground operators must work together to create safe environments for children. Follow these tips to significantly reduce the risk of a playground injury:

Supervise Children Actively

No matter how safe a playground seems, nothing replaces active supervision. Always stay close enough to intervene quickly, and pay extra attention to younger children or those trying new equipment for the first time.

Inspect Playgrounds for Hazards

Before letting kids play, take a moment to check for hazards such as rusted or broken equipment, dangerous surfaces like exposed concrete, rocks, or tree stumps, missing guardrails on elevated areas, and sharp objects like protruding nails or S-hooks.

Teach Playground Etiquette

Encourage children to play kindly and avoid behaviors that might lead to accidents. For example; Teach them not to push, shove, or overcrowd others on play equipment and explain the importance of waiting their turn to use swings or slides.

Dress Appropriately

Clothing can inadvertently pose risks on the playground. Avoid necklaces, scarves, or drawstrings that may get caught and cause strangulation hazards. Remove bike helmets when not riding, as they could get stuck in playground equipment.

Ensure Safe Surfaces

Falls are responsible for over 75% of playground-related injuries. Safe surfacing materials, like wood chips, mulch, sand, or rubber mats, should cushion children if they fall. The surface should also be at least 12 inches deep and extend 6 feet beyond stationary equipment edges.

Play Age-Appropriate Games

Separate play areas for children under 5 and older kids are essential. Smaller kids cannot safely use equipment designed for older children.

S.A.F.E. Framework for Playground Injury Prevention

The S.A.F.E. framework, developed by safety organizations, provides a comprehensive approach for reducing playground injuries. It focuses on four crucial components:

S – Supervision

Adults should closely supervise children on playgrounds, ensuring they use equipment safely and intervene when necessary. Unfortunately, many injuries occur at schools and daycare centers where proper supervision is lacking. This often happens when staff members are overwhelmed, undertrained, or simply inattentive to the children in their care. In such cases, caregivers and institutions may be legally responsible for a child’s injury, as they have a duty to provide a safe environment and prevent foreseeable harm.

A – Age-Appropriate Design

Playgrounds should have separate areas for toddlers, preschoolers, and older children to ensure equipment suits their developmental needs. For example, toddlers should only use small play structures with no more than a 3-foot fall height, while older children can engage in more challenging activities. However, playgrounds should be designed to minimize excessive risk for all age groups.

F – Fall Prevention and Surfacing

Impact-absorbing surfaces can prevent serious injuries. Also, teaching children about careful behavior—like always using handrails or avoiding standing on swings—helps prevent falls. A playground that lacks proper surfacing creates unnecessary risks, and when a child is injured, the owner or operator faces potential liability for negligence.

E – Equipment Maintenance

Regular maintenance is essential to keeping public and private playgrounds safe. Schools, daycare centers, and public parks have a duty to maintain playgrounds. Failing to repair broken structures, replace missing bolts, or address hazardous conditions results in liability for injuries that occur. Regular inspections should be conducted to identify and address any problems quickly.

Malman Law’s founder Attorney Steven Malman has over 30 years of experience handling personal injury, nursing home, medical malpractice, premises liability, construction and workers’ compensation cases.

STEVE J. MALMAN

Founding Attorney

What to Do If a Playground Injury Occurs

Despite best efforts, accidents can still happen. If your child has suffered a personal injury in the playground due to unsafe conditions or negligence, taking immediate action is crucial. 

First, seek medical attention to ensure your child’s injuries are properly treated and documented. Keep records of all medical visits, diagnoses, and treatment plans, as these will be essential if you decide to pursue legal action.

Next, document the scene of the injury. Take photos or videos of the playground equipment involved, any hazardous conditions present, and the surrounding environment. Gathering witness statements from other parents, caregivers, or staff members who saw what happened strengthens your case. These details serve as key evidence in proving negligence and seeking compensation.

Report the injury to the appropriate authorities, such as the school, daycare, or park administration, and request a written incident report. When the playground is publicly owned, filing a formal complaint with local government agencies ensures that the issue is officially documented and addressed.

Finally, consult with a legal professional who has experience handling cases involving injuries at public parks; our attorneys at Malman Law is here to help families in navigate the legal process and hold negligent parties accountable. Call today!