There are elements of parks that could be easily made safer. The primary issue is, of course, the safety of children in the playground, and park areas. Many countries have introduced safety legislation in an effort to lower the number and severity of playground injuries (Wakes, and Beukes). For example ideas such as height requirements, and equipment selection play a huge role in park design. These selections help prevent misuse of the parks and also keep the inherent danger to a more manageable level. Another way parks can maintain their safety is upkeep of the parks and playgrounds. Parts can wear down and break due to weather conditions, and also wear and tear from regular use of the equipment. Climbing bars and monkey frames are reported to be the most common causes of fractures and other severe injuries resulting from falls in the playground with landing surfaces mitigating some severity. Because of the nature of their use, monkey bars are invariably in excess of 2 meters in height. As researcher Wakes and Beukes shows, equipment greater than 1.5 meters in height is associated with a twofold increase of severe injury risk, increasing to threefold for falls from equipment higher than 2.5 meters (qtd. In Ball and Loader).
One of the largest contributors to emergency room visits are falls. One study, for instance, noted that “Falls account for one-third of all injury-related emergency visits and 75% of all playground injuries that receive medical attention” (Wakes, and Beukes). Not all of these could have been avoided, but the severity of these injuries could have been lessened with more concern to height constraints. An article from the American Journal of Health Education stated, “the primary issue is, of course, the safety of children in the playground, and many countries have introduced safety legislation in an effort to lower the number and harshness of playground injuries” (Olsen, Hudson, and Thompson 188). These improvements to the legislation will in turn help make positive moves in the direction of childhood safety.
Additionally the specific equipment selection can prove to be a contributing factor of children's safety. Swings are becoming less common on school properties throughout the country for liability reasons, and because school officials are looking for new ways to engage students in activities using safer equipment (Lawrence-Turner). Although there has been great movement to understand playground injuries by examining fall injuries and pinpointing that the height of the equipment, the posture of body at impact with the ground, and the type of surface onto which children fall are important risk factors. Still there are important pieces to playground injury prevention that need to be examined.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published its first series of playground safety equipment and surfacing guidelines in 1981.11-12 CPSC states that there are many factors associated with playground safety. The intent of the publication of the handbook was to promote greater safety awareness among those who purchase, install, and maintain public playground equipment. (Olsen, Hudson, and Thompson). These guidelines give parks the certain regulations that are necessary to maintain the peace of mind for parents and guardians of children knowing that the right regulations and procedures are in place throughout not only neighborhood parks but parks across the country.
One of the largest contributors to emergency room visits are falls. One study, for instance, noted that “Falls account for one-third of all injury-related emergency visits and 75% of all playground injuries that receive medical attention” (Wakes, and Beukes). Not all of these could have been avoided, but the severity of these injuries could have been lessened with more concern to height constraints. An article from the American Journal of Health Education stated, “the primary issue is, of course, the safety of children in the playground, and many countries have introduced safety legislation in an effort to lower the number and harshness of playground injuries” (Olsen, Hudson, and Thompson 188). These improvements to the legislation will in turn help make positive moves in the direction of childhood safety.
Additionally the specific equipment selection can prove to be a contributing factor of children's safety. Swings are becoming less common on school properties throughout the country for liability reasons, and because school officials are looking for new ways to engage students in activities using safer equipment (Lawrence-Turner). Although there has been great movement to understand playground injuries by examining fall injuries and pinpointing that the height of the equipment, the posture of body at impact with the ground, and the type of surface onto which children fall are important risk factors. Still there are important pieces to playground injury prevention that need to be examined.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published its first series of playground safety equipment and surfacing guidelines in 1981.11-12 CPSC states that there are many factors associated with playground safety. The intent of the publication of the handbook was to promote greater safety awareness among those who purchase, install, and maintain public playground equipment. (Olsen, Hudson, and Thompson). These guidelines give parks the certain regulations that are necessary to maintain the peace of mind for parents and guardians of children knowing that the right regulations and procedures are in place throughout not only neighborhood parks but parks across the country.