Group offers suggestions to avoid playground injuries

Rosemont, IL – In 2012, more than 600,000 children were injured on playground equipment such as monkey bars, swing sets, slides and seesaws, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

To help kids avoid playground injuries, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers the following tips for parents and guardians:

• Remove drawstrings or hoods that may catch on equipment before allowing your child to play.
• Avoid playgrounds with concrete, asphalt, or hard-packed dirt or grass.
• Teach children to hold handrails and not run up stairs on equipment.
• Avoid metal or wood swing sets; swing sets should be made of plastic or rubber.
• Never go down the slide holding a child. Kids should go down one person at a time and move away as soon as they reach the ground.
• Check that the handgrips on monkey bars are secure and the right size for your child’s grasp.
• Be sure you can clearly see your child at all times.