Watchdog Group: Playgrounds Should Be Safer
3 Of 4 Playgrounds Lack Protective Surfacing
Updated: 3:24 p.m. EDT June 20, 2002
WASHINGTON -- Your child's playground may not be as safe as you think.
Despite a decade of gradual safety improvements, three out of four playgrounds still lack adequate protective surfacing to cushion children from falls, according to a new study. That type of accident accounts for 80 percent of playground injuries.
The survey was released Thursday by two consumer watchdog groups, the Consumer Federation of America and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.
The groups examined more than 1,000 public playgrounds 36 states and Washington, D.C., for the study. They found that hard surfacing, equipment that is too high, and swings that are too close together pose preventable hazards to children at a majority of public playgrounds across the country.
One of the authors said the number of injuries can be sharply reduced by making equipment safer.
"Playgrounds can be wonderful places for children to have fun and face new challenges," said U.S. PIRG research director Alison Cassady. "But children face serious injury on playgrounds when they fall from equipment that is too high onto surfacing that is too hard."
The groups also found that 14 percent of the playgrounds they surveyed were made of wood that may be pressure treated. Some pressure-treated wood may contain chromium copper arsenate, a known carcinogen.
"We urge local authorities to test their playgrounds made out of wood for CCA. Children should not be exposed to toxic chemicals as they play on playgrounds," said Rachel Weintraub, CFA assistant general counsel.
The groups encourage parents to get involved to make local playgrounds safer for kids.
"Parents working with local officials can be effective advocates for safer playgrounds," Weintraub said.
According to government statistics, almost 190,000 children were treated in hospital emergency rooms in 2001 as a result of injuries sustained on public playground equipment. Each year, between 15 and 20 children die as a result of playground injuries.
The federal government and the playground equipment industry have voluntary safety guidelines, but no mandatory standards.
CFA has produced a model law for playground safety that contains details that address safety and design for all play equipment and areas, as well as separate requirements for equipment used by both preschool age and school age children. The groups encourage state and local governments to adopt the requirements. The model law is available at Safechild.net.
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