Child Injury Lawyer Blog

By Stephen New, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

In West Virginia, day care centers and child care centers have a duty to provide children with a safe and clean outdoor and playground environment. Pursuant to Title 78 - Legislative Rules - Department of Health and Human Resources - Division of Human Services - Child Care Centers Licensing - Hazards - Section 20.4.C, the Child Care Center has a duty to ensure that the play area for the children are well drained and free of debris. Furthermore, the child care center shall provide an outdoor environment that is clear of hazards including pits and abandoned wells, tree roots, appliances, and all other potential hazards including heat pumps, air conditioning units and external wiring, meters and telephone boxes. These areas shall be kept inaccessible to the child. The children enrolled in a day care center shall also be protected or kept away from moving vehicles when playing outside at the child care center. In addition, the soil of the playground area shall be free from any level of toxic chemicals and substances.

By Robert Chaiken, Attorney & David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Doctors in Texas believe that incidents of child eye injuries increase during the summer months. Doctors in Permian Basin said it could be anything from the lack of adult supervision to the lack of safety eye wear that contributes to an increase of child injuries under the age of 16.

Isai Garay, 12-years-old, lost his vision in one of his eyes due to a BB Gun accident at a friend’s house. He was cleaning the gun and thought it was unloaded. Garay pulled the trigger and the be-be came out, which caused him to go legally blind in one eye. His mother, Maria Garay, said that the thought of her son not being able to see out of one eye gave her chills. Doctor Gerado Escobedo performed cataract surgery on Garay, which helped him to see again.

Garay was one of the hundreds of children that come to the clinic during the summer with eye-related injuries. Doctors said there is a five percent increase during the summer with cases involving eye injuries similar to Garay. Escobedo said that sports injuries are also reasons for eye-related injuries. He said, “Most of the time you don’t wear something until you have an eye poked out.” Fortunately, 90 percent of these eye injuries can be prevented if proper safety precautions are taken. For more information on this topic, see Child Eye Injury Increase During the Summer 7/22/11.

By Scott Zahler, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Pursuant to Rule 591-1-1-.26 - Playgrounds - of the Georgia Rules and Regulations for Child Care Learning Centers, child care centers must meet certain criteria and requirements. First and foremost, the outdoor area must larger the center's licensed capacity for children, specifically the area shall be equal to 100 square feet times 1/3 the center's capacity. Each center is required to provide 100 square feet for each child occupying the outside play area at any one time, groups of children may be rotated if necessary. The play area shall be adjacent to the child care center, or in an area that is accessible by a safe route or other approved method. However, school-age centers shall have shaded areas. The play areas shall also be protected by a fence or other secure barrier, which is 4 feet or higher. Child care centers must keep the play areas clean, so as to be free from litter and hazards ("free from hazards" can mean but is not limited to non-resilient surfaces under the fall-zaon of play equipment, exposed tree roots and exposed sharp edges of concrete or equipment. The equipment shall be age appropriate and provide the children at the center with various opportunities and engage in a variety of experiences. The outdoor equipment must be free from lead-based paint, sharp corners and be checked regularly to maintain safety.

When a child is abused or injured in a Georgia Day Care Center, it can be quite challenging for a parent to deal with the aftermath, stress, and trauma of such injuries to the child. The book titled The ABCs of Child Injury - Legal Rights of the Injured Child - What Every Parent Should Know - contains chapters on Child Abuse, School Injuries, Day Care Injuries, Damages / Compensation, and other topics. You can receive a free book on Child Injury Questions and Issues. The book is also available on the following websites: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the Apple iBookstore.

By Steven Smith, Attorney, and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

In Long Island, New York, three bounce houses went airborne after some strong winds lifted up the bounce houses at a soccer tournament. The incident took place at the Town of Oceanside (Long Island) New York at the United Soccer Club. Bounce houses can be susceptible to strong winds and thereby create a zone of danger when the bounce houses are not properly secured in place. When operating or renting a bounce house, it is important to read the weather forecast. Furthermore, it is also important to monitor the weather forecast and weather reports during the time that the bounce house is in place. While bounce houses are typically fun for children, safety is a priority at all times. It was reported that 13 people were injured as a result of this bounce house incident. See 13 Injured WHen Bounce Houses Go Airborne in New York.

The book titled - The ABCs of Child Injury - Legal Rights of the Injured Child - has chapters on Playground Injuries, Medical Bills / Medical Treatment, Damages / Compensation and other topics. You can receive a free copy of this book at Free Child Injury Book for Parents - Answers to Many Common Questions When a Child Is Injured. The book is also available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the Apple iBookstore.

By David Wolf, Attorney Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Marquise Bessllieu, 17, a Georgetown High School (South Carolina) basketball player is recovering after being stabbed outside Georgetown Presbyterian Church. Police arrested the attacker who was later identified as 24-year-old Maliek Gibbs. Bassllieu first encountered Gibbs during the basketball game when Gibbs took the basketball. A few minutes later Gibbs stabbed Bessellieu in the abdomen outside in the parking lot.

Bessllieu had surgery and his family said he is recovering from his injuries. He is expected to face 6 weeks of recovery time and will likely miss the remainder of the school year. Gibbs faced a judge last Friday and was given a $25,000 bond. If the State pursues charges against Gibbs, he will be entitled to the services of a Louisiana criminal defense lawyer or the services of the local public defender's office. An arrest does not automatically mean that there will be a plea deal or a conviction.

Allowing your child to get involved in extracurricular activities outside of school is a wise choice, and it can be very important in helping them to develop many working skills, people skills, and more. However, Louisiana parents should make sure that the activity is taking place in a safe environment with adult supervision. For more informatoin on this story, see Player stabbed after basketball game at church.

By Sara J. Powell, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

In Arizona and other States, children enjoy playing in bounce houses and jumping castles. Unfortunately, on some occasions, children suffer serious personal injuries while jumping in or just occupying a bounce house. In Pima County, Arizona, a terrible incident was reported in which a bounce house described as a jumping castle was lifted 15 feet in the air by a dust devil and blew the inflatable structure across three lanes of traffic before landing on the ground. The Tuscon Arizona Fire Department responded to the scene of the accident. It was reported that a boy and a girl were inside the bounce house at the time of the incident and suffered serious personal injuries.

There may be liability for the injuries suffered by these children depending on the additional facts that may be obtained from the police department, fire department, and / or investigators who review the scene or the information regarding the incident. The following issues should be reviewed:

What kind of anchoring was used for the bounce house?

What kind of anchoring was recommended by the manufacturer?

How well was the bounce house and anchoring equipment maintained?

What did the weather forecast call for at the time of the incident?

What kind of warning or notice was available as to the weather?

What kind of supervision was provided for the children in the bounce house?

Was the incident avoidable?

Were additional anchoring techniques or tools available to make the inflatable structure more secure?

You can read more about this story at 2 Kids Injured in Arizona Jumping Castle Accident.

By Roy S. Dickinson, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

In Oklahoma, a tragic fairground accident was report where a child died and 4 others suffered personal injuries. The accident involved a barrel ride which was described as an ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) towing barrels that children / riders occupied. During the ride, the 55 gallon barrels overturned. Authorities reported that the an 8 year old girl was later pronounced dead at Marietta Hospital from personal injuries related to this incident. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) identified the girl as Jaylen Wolf of Marietta, Oklahoma. You can read about this story at Girl (Jaylen Wolf) Dies as a Result of Oklahoma Fairground Accident - Barrel Ride Overturns.

News report did not provide details of whether the ride was manufactured by a company or manufactured by an individual. It would be important to determine what kind of safety tests and inspections were completed prior to having guests / children use the ride. Were the barrels susceptible to tipping? What kind of safety measures were put in place (if any) to deal with a tipping barrel? What speed was the ATV going at the time of the incident? Was the terrain a factor in causing the barrels to tip over?

Fairgrounds can be sites of great fun. As you can see here, fairgrounds can also be sites of horrible tragedy and serious personal injuries.

The design, operation, and inspection of the barrel ride system will be pertinent to both the homicide or death investigation by authorities. These issues are also important should the personal injury victims and their families pursue a civil case for the damages / injuries sustained as a result of this incident.

Injuries sustained at a theme park or fairground are often times serious and quite difficult for a family to deal with from the practical, medical, psychological, finanical, and, yes, legal standpoint. You can read more about Theme Park and Fairground Injuries as well as other topics in the book titled - The ABCs of Child Injury - Legal Rights of the Injured Child - What Every Parent Should Know. You can request a free copy of the book by clicking here.

By Mark Freedman, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

A 3-year-old child was injured in Montcalm County, Michigan after falling in the child's family barn. According to officers, the child was playing inside the barn when he feel 8 to 10 feet onto a cement floor. According to police, the 3-year-old sustained a serious head injury. The young boy was transported by helicopter to a hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is listed in serious condition. Deputies have ruled this incident an accident. If you would like to read more on this story please see 3-year-old falls from family barn sustains serious head injury.

Young children like 3 year olds often times do not appreciate or recognize the dangers of heights. As such, young children are at risk for injury when playing on or standing on an elevated area. When children are on elevated areas, it is important to have railings and other safety equipment for the protection of children. Supervision is also key to preventing tragic child injuries. Of course, it is difficult to prevent all injuries from occurring. However, simple safety measures and supervision can help avoid many unfortunate incidents from taking place.

While a child's fall from a hayloft may not be that common, injuries sustained in playgrounds In Michigan and other States are quite common. The same principles of safety measures, safety equipment, and supervision apply to playgrounds. Typically, playgrounds typically have a number of elevated platforms. For young children, the elevated platforms can be quite fun but also quite dangerous. Make sure that the playground is age appropriate for your child and designed in a way that provides for the safety of your child. Always maintain good supervision when your child is in a playground area. Maintaining supervision over a child while he or she is playing will decrease the likelihood that he or she will fall and sustain personal injuries because you, as a supervisor, will be able to quickly spot when the child has climbed too high, is running too fast, or is otherwise engaging in risky behavior on play equipment. Another way to prevent children from sustaining person injuries is to check the play equipment for its condition and safety before allowing children to play on the equipment. If you would like to read more safety tips concerning playground hazards please read Playground Hazards - What Parents, Teachers, Day Care Providers and Others Can Do to Help Prevent Child Personal Injuries on Playgrounds?.

By Will Lewis, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Rock climbing and wall climbing are very popular activities for children. When participating in these activities, safety is a must. The wall should be securely anchored and all children should wear harnesses. In addition, adult supervision is key to keeping children safe. It is well known that children do not always appreciate the dangers of a particular activity. As such, adult supervision is necessary not only for instruction but also to make sure that children do not venture into areas or stunts that can lead to serious personal injuries.

In Lakeside, Montana, the Associated Press reported that a climbing wall collapsed at a church camp. The incident resulted in 8 children being treating at a local hospital. Injuries included fractured bones and bruising.

It was reported that the wall was 8 feet long. There were no details as to what safety measures were put in place at this climbing wall. While some incidents are completely unexpected and cannot be foreseen, many incidents involving injuries to children can be avoided with attention to detail as to the set up of the wall and as to the supervision of children on the wall or apparatus. You can read more about this story at Montana Church - Climbing Wall Collapse Leads to Injuries.

By Roy S. Dickinson, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

In Oklahoma and other States, there are concerns about the lack of consistent and accurate date regarding playground incidents and accidents. Children are frequently injured on playgrounds at schools, day care centers, parks, community centers, and homes. Many experts believe that it would be helpful to have some kind of reporting system or data bank set up for the reporting of playground incidents resulting in personal injuries to children. By having such data in place, it could help designers and manufacturers make the playground equipment more safe for children. The information would also be helpful to teachers, day care providers, and child care providers who provide the day to day supervision of children on playgrounds. While not all injuries can be prevented on playgrounds, many such injuries can be prevented if we know why and how children are injured on playgrounds. You can read more about this topic at Oklahoma Playground Injury Oversight Sought

By Scott A. Marks, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

In Novato, California, school officials closed down three playgrounds at schools to further study the playgrounds for safety precautions. Experts will be consulted to determine what modifications need to be made to make the playgrounds safer for children. One child was reported to fall from the structure which, in turn, caused a fractured arm. Another child also fractured an arm while another suffered from a dislocated shoulder. It was reported that 6 children suffered broken bones after falling from these structures in just a 3 week time period. Officials will evaluate the height of the structure, the number of children that have been playing on the structure at one time, and the manufacturer specifications for the structure.

Playgrounds are a site of great fun for children; however, all available safety precautions should be taken for children. Just because a playground structure is new does not mean that it is safe. You can read more about this story at Novato Schools Closes Down Playgrounds After Reports of Injuries / Fractures to Children.

By Jonathan Safran, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Evan Coubal, a 6th-grader of Muskego, Wisconsin tragically died from a head injury he sustained after falling off playground equipment. Evan was an athletic boy and had recently sustained a concussion during a youth football game about a week prior to the playground incident. Although Evan took time off from playing football after sustaining the concussion, he was playing around the school's football sleds during recess. Evan accidentally hit his head on one of the sleds and was immediately rushed to a hospital. He died two days after the accident. If you would like to read more on this story please see 6th grade boy dies from head trauma after injuring himself on playground equipment.

Evan's death is a tragedy for his family and his community. Concussions happen all too often to young athletes. However, parents, coaches and teaches seem to be ill-informed on how dangerous a concussion can be, especially for children. Doctors say that concussions present more dangers and risk to children than adults. Specifically, youths are more likely to sustain concussions, have a longer recovery period and are at a greater risk of suffering brain damage. If you would like to read more information regarding children and concussions please see Parents Lack Important Knowledge and Experience Regarding Dangers of Concussions to Children. This is not to accuse Evan's parents, coaches or teachers of being ill-informed, but to increase awareness that if a child has sustained a concussion he or she needs to be very careful and perhaps avoid engaging in physically-demanding activities until he or she has received clearance from a doctor.

If you would like to read more information on Playground Safety please see Playgrounds Are Great Fun For Children . . . Especially When Playgrounds Are Safe.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Playgrounds are great environments for children to have fun and get exercise. However, parents need to ensure that the playground area is safe before they allow their children to play on the equipment. According to group reports, approximately 200,000 children in the United States visit the hospital after sustaining playground-injuries. Nearly 80% of playground-injuries are the result of falls, says the National Playground Safety Institute. And about 45% of those injuries are considered severe, meaning the injuries are fractures, internal injuries, concussions or dislocations.

Here are some safety tips that can be employed to prevent playground injuries:
1. Children should always be supervised. The younger the children, the more supervision that is needed.
2. Inspect the playground equipment before allowing you children to play on it. Check for broken or protruding pieces, cracks and other open spaces and open bottles or other sharp objects around the area.
3. If the playground is crowded and prevents you from maintaining constant supervision on your child, comeback at a different time with the volume is not as heavy.
4. Teach your children not to run, shove or push others at the playground.

To read more on this topic see How to keep playgrounds a safe place for children.

By Steven Smith, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

A 6-month-old baby girl, identified as Gianna Ricciutti, was killed and her mother injured by a falling tree branch at New York's Central Park Zoo. According to police, the mother was posing with her baby in front of the zoo's sea lion exhibit while her husband was taking a picture of them when a tree branch fell and hit the two victims. The mother and infant were taken to New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, where the infant was pronounced dead and the mother in stable condition.

Surprisingly, this is not the first death of the year caused by falling tree branches in Central Park. In February, a 46-year-old man was killed when a branch heavy with snow broke from the tree and hit him. Also, in July 2009, a Google engineer was knocked unconscious after a rotted tree branch fell and hit him on the head. If you would like more information on this story please see Falling branch at New York's Central Park Zoo kills infant.

The death of this child is a tragedy for her family and the community. Hopefully this recent death will prompt the zoo to take action and implement a new plan that requires zoo workers or other employees to care for and maintain the site in order to provide a safer environment for visitors.

By Scott A. Marks, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

A tram accident at the Six Flags Discovery Kingdom theme park in Vallejo, California left 3 injured. Nancy Chan, a Six Flags spokeswoman, told local reporters that the tram was transporting guests to the parking lot when it was struck by a swinging metal gate. Apparently, a guest inadvertently pushed the gate causing it to swing and hit the tram. A 34-year-old man suffered from a protruding injury to his leg and a two-year-old girl had a laceration to her stomach. The third victim, an adult woman, only suffered minor injuries. The 34-year-old man was airlifted to UC Davis Medical and the two-year-old child was airlifted to Kaiser in Vallejo and later taken to Children's Hospital in Oakland. Bill Tweety, a spokesman with Vallejo Fire, stated both victims are still believed to be in serious condition. If you would like to read more on this story please see Three injured at Six Flags amusement park in California.

These accidents are very unfortunate for both the families and loved ones of the victims. Hopefully, the two victims in serious condition make a full and speedy recovery. Amusement parks are fun and exciting environments, however, the potential of danger is alwayspresent. Park guests should follow the rules and guidelines of the theme park and not wander into any authorized areas so as to minimize the risk of injury.

By Andrew Prine, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

The Michigan Supreme Court handed down a decision that may have an effect on businesses and schools within the state that offer recreational activities for minors. The Supreme Court of Michigan ruled that a parent's signature on an injury waiver does not waive the legal rights of a child who is hurt at play. Essentially, a parental signature on behalf of a child binds the child to the contract. The Michigan Supreme Court said that parents do not have the authority to do such. The court's decision reasoned that Michigan's common law prevented a parent from entering into a contract restricting the rights of a child.

The case involved a 5-year-old boy, Trent Woodman, who broke his leg at Bounce Party, an indoor recreation center, after he jumped down an inflatable slide. Woodman's mother sued the owner of Bounce Party claiming improper supervision and negligence on behalf of the recreation center; the child was not provided a pad to move down the slide as required by the device's manufacturer.

The dissenting justices predicted that the majority's interpretation of the Michigan's common law would result in widespread fallout because of increased liability risks for recreation sponsors. Justice Stephen Markman, a dissenting justice, said consequences of the majority's decision will be felt throughout the state, "including both an increase in litigation and a reduction in sporting and recreational opportunities for children." However, justice Diana Hathaway said the dissent's predictions of doom were overstated. Justice Hathaway stated that children will still continue to play sports or other recreational activities and go to bounce parties, just as they do in other states. The family's lawyer, Paul McCarthy, said anyone who takes a child into their custody "needs to be held to the minimum standards required by law." To read more about this topic see Michigan Supreme Court rules against enforceability of injury waivers. You can read more about inflatable bounce devices at Dangers of Inflatable Slides and Bounce Houses at Parties and Amusement Centers.

The validity of parental waivers is ruled upon State by State. Some States may very well enforce them while others may not. It is certainly against public policy to allow a business, individual or other entity to act with reckless disregard or negligence and avoid legal responsibility for such actions. The Michigan Court's decision is a good one for child safety and public policy.

By Will Brown, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

In Tremont City, Ohio, a 6-year-old girl fell off the trampoline located at her home. The child was being watched by her grandmother through the back door of their home. After the accident, which the grandmother witnessed, the child walked into the home then vomited and lost balance. She was flown to a nearby hospital where she was diagnosed with a mild concussion. The grandmother stated the trampoline was usually secured by a safety net, however, it happened to be unattached on the day the accident occurred. Although the family has had the trampoline for four years, the family took the trampoline down after the accident.

Devices such as trampolines or other play equipment are a great source of fun for children. However, fun-filled playgrouund equipment can be extremely dangerous and pose a serious risk of injury to children. Parents should take extra precautions if they decide to maintain playground equipment for their children, such as the safety net for the trampoline this family had. Children sometimes do not appreciate the dangerous nature of the equipment they play on. Therefore, parents, care takers, daycare providers, babysitters, and others need to take all reasonable precautions and safety measures to protect children from sustaining bodily injury from these types of playground equipment.

To read more on this incident see 6-year-old Ohio Girl Falls Off Trampoline, Suffers Head Injury.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Playgrounds are a great place for kids to be active and spend time with families and friends. Unfortunately, some playgrounds are the sites of serious personal injuries and tragedy. Some incidents are pure accidents that could not be expected or prevented while other incidents were preventable with good supervision and proper maintenance of the playground. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, over 200,000 children suffer injuries from hazards in playground every year. Many children are treated in hospital emergency rooms. Some injuries are serious enough to require surgery and an extended hospital admission. There are some basic steps and safety precautions that can be taken by and for children on playgrounds that can help prevent or reduce the incidents of child personal injuries including the following:

Make sure that there is sufficient space on a playground around the equipment in case a child falls. Obstructions and hazards should be removed.

Make sure that children are not wearing jewelry or clothing that might snag or cause of choking hazard.

Make sure that playground equipment is kept in good repair including all platforms, railings, and other protective equipment.

Make sure that the equipment is not overloaded or crowded but is properly spread out.

Make sure that playground is free of debris, garbage, broken glass and other hazards.

Make sure that there is ongoing and consistent supervision during play on a playground. A child can get injured even with the newest and safest playground equipment.

Make sure that the playground equipment is free from sharp, jagged edges, or splinters or other conditions that could cause injury, lacerations, and / or cuts.

You can read more about these playground safety tips and others at Dangers of Playgrounds and Safety Tips for the Protection of Children.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

When addressing playground safety issues, I thought it would be interesting to post an article from a child's point of view. My 11 year old daughter provided me with the following article on Playground Safety:

On the playground, kids just want to have fun. Boys like to play sports like football and soccer. Girls like to play on the jungle gym. The boys' games can get pretty intense and the girls' jungle gym play can get competitive.

The teachers monitoring the playground cannot see every child playing at once. Let's just say your child is participating in a football game at school during recess. There is a fifth grader on the other team while your child is only in the second grade. Your child may have the chance to catch the ball BOOM! The big fifth grader tackles your child. After the incident, the teachers come running toward your child. They call you, the parent, and tell you about the terrible occurrence.

Thereafter, you arrive at the school and take your child to the doctor. You then find out that your child has a broken wrist.

To avoid this happening to your child or another child in the future, you should ask your child what they were doing with their friends. If some activity taking place does not sound safe or appropriate, you should speak to the teacher and, if necessary, the principal about the dangerous activity.

You should ask that the school to provide close supervision of your child and other children during recess and other times on the playground. A school and its staff should always do their best to keep kids safe.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Playgrounds are a great place for children to play in a defined area with other children. Many playgrounds are safe and built to standards. With good supervision, these playgrounds are great for children. Other playgrounds, however, are not well maintained or built and contain a number of hidden dangers to children. Before a child is allowed to play on a playground, a parent, caregiver, day care provider, or teacher should inspect the equipment to make sure that it is safe and age appropriate for the children. If everything checks out, supervision is key to the safety of children. Children often times lack good safety awareness and judgment. As such, supervision is the best way to keep children safe on playgrounds. You can read other safety tips from a pediatrician who believes that many playground accidents and injuries are preventable at Playground Injuries Are Preventable.

Playground injuries are preventable

Posted By DR. SUSAN SURRY

Posted 22 hours ago

One of the sure signs of spring is children let loose in the playground. After a long winter, children are naturally thrilled to be out in the warm and sunny weather and ready for some fun. That's especially true for children aged five to nine who are active and imaginative, and learning new skills every day.

At this age, children like to push their physical boundaries and really enjoy jumping, climbing and balancing. They also think that they can do more than they are able to do and often take chances that can result in an injury.
Fall-related injuries are the number one reason for children aged five to nine years to be treated at hospital emergency departments. They are also the second leading cause of brain injuries for children. These injuries involve playground equipment more than any other type of fall.

While the actions of children can be unpredictable, injuries do not have to be. There are some simple ways that parents and caregivers can reduce the risk of injuries in this age group.

Start by making sure that the places children play are safe. Before children start to play, check the playground equipment for any damage, including loose bars, broken swing chains and nails or bolts that protrude. Make sure the hand rails are secure and free from splinters. Deep, soft surfaces such as sand, pea gravel and wood or rubber chips will cushion falls and prevent many injuries. Don't forget that injuries can also happen on backyard equipment, so do a safety check of your own home playground areas.

Young children can be injured on playgrounds designed for older children. If a child is too small to reach and use equipment alone, it is not designed for that age. Make sure that the equipment is the correct size and meets the physical abilities of your child.

Supervision of children decreases the chance of injury, so watch children closely. Stand next to all children when they are learning a new skill or climbing. Reduce a child's chance of choking on play equipment by avoiding clothing with drawstrings or scarves and removing bike helmets before playing on the equipment. Do not taking skipping ropes onto playground structures.

Teach children the playground safety rules. Children should know to wait and take their turn, to avoid pushing and to slide down feet first and walk up the steps or ladders, rather than running up the slide. Make sure you are consistent with the rules and that children follow them every time. Praise your children for playing safely and role model by following the safety rules yourself.

Playgrounds can be a great source of exercise, a time to meet other children and be involved in creative play. By playing safely together your family can make this season one of fond, and injury free, memories. For more information on preventing childhood injuries call Your Health Connection Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 721- 7520 (1-877-721-7520) or check www.simcoemuskokahealth.org.

Dr. Susan Surry is an associate medical officer of health and a paediatrician.