School playgrounds can be dangerous places where children, both young and older, are injured. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), 2,691 incidents associated with playground equipment were reported to the commission between 2001 and the end of 2008. Accidents can result from equipment failures as well as lax supervision by teachers or other staff members.
Of the 2,691 incidents reported, 1,810, or 67 percent were caused by falls or equipment failure. Fifty eight percent of the 2,691 accidents involved swings, slides, climbers or monkey bars. Seventy-three percent of the injuries were minor and did not need hospitalization. It was estimated that 53 percent of the injuries occurred in children between 5 and 9 years old.
