Playground equipment injuries in a large, urban school district

Am J Public Health. 1984 Sep;74(9):984-6. doi: 10.2105/ajph.74.9.984.

Abstract

We studied the epidemiologic features of playground equipment-related injuries occurring in a large, urban school district over a two-year period. Nurses in each of the district's 68 elementary schools completed self-coded reporting forms on all injuries meeting standardized criteria. A total of 511 equipment-related injuries were reported, an incidence of 8.9 injuries per 1,000 student-years. One-fourth of the injuries were severe, and climbing equipment was disproportionately represented among playground equipment associated with injuries. Extreme variability was found among school-specific rates of equipment injury, with schools at the two extremes separated by as much as a 40-fold difference in incidence. Two school characteristics--smaller student enrollments and the presence of alternative educational programs--were significantly associated with higher equipment-related injury rates.

MeSH terms

  • Arizona
  • Child
  • Epidemiologic Methods
  • Equipment Safety
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Play and Playthings*
  • Schools*
  • Urban Population
  • Wounds and Injuries / epidemiology*