Playground Injuries
Playgrounds are great recreational areas where children can play with friends, expend some energy, and be entertained for hours. However, the outdoor structures found on playgrounds can also be quite dangerous, especially if they are not structurally sound, well-maintained, and if the children are not adequately supervised. In fact, playgrounds are the leading sources of child injury in the United States. Every year, over 200,000 children are admitted to hospitals for treatment of playground-related injuries.
The Dirty Dozen Dangers
The National Playground Safety Institute (NPSI) is a governmental school responsible for certifying playground inspectors. This institution has outlined a list of twelve hazards that are relatively common on playgrounds and pose significant risks to playing children:
- Poor protective surfaces
- Lack of at least 6 feet of open space around each piece of equipment
- Items that pose protrusion and entrapment risks
- Openings that pose a risk of entrapment
- Inadequate spacing between pieces of playground equipment
- Anything that poses a tripping hazard
- Children allowed to play on age-inappropriate equipment
- Poor equipment maintenance
- Equipment with sharp edges
- Platforms that lack guardrails
- Use of playground equipment that is not recommended by the NPSI
These are some of the main hazards that pose threats to a child’s well-being. Lack of supervision is another dangerous situation for youngsters at play. If they are not reprimanded for playing dangerously or prevented from using the equipment in the wrong manner, they may also suffer injuries.
Contact Us
If your child has suffered a playground-related injury as the result of another party’s negligence, you may have a right to damages. Contact the Austin personal injury lawyers of The Law Offices of Vic Feazell, P.C. today at 877-948-4842 to speak with him about your legal rights and options.
