Tracking Playground Injuries

Each year in the U.S., some 200,000 preschoolers and grade-schoolers go to the ER for playground injuries. That’s about one injury every 2 1/2 minutes, according to statistics gathered by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.

Here are more statistics:

* About 35% of the injuries are severe, including fractures, amputations, internal injuries, concussions and dislocations.

* Public playgrounds account for about 70% of injuries related to playground equipment.

* In schools, most injuries to 5- to 14-year-olds occur in playgrounds.

* Swings, monkey bars and slides are among the equipment involved in most injuries.

* Slightly fewer than 3% of injuries require hospitalization.

* Each year nine to 17 children die of playground-related injuries.

* In 1995, playground-related injuries to children younger than 15 resulted in $1.2 billion in costs.