Playground Safety
Student Injuries in Utah
(School years 1990-91 to 1997-98)
Injuries included in this state report are only those serious enough to cause the loss of one-half day or more of school, or warrant medical attention.
Total injuries grades K-6: 27,338
68% of all elementary school injuries were playground related
256 playground injuries required hospitalization
87% (or more than 16,000) of those injured were seen by a health care provider
The most common surfaces on which playground injuries occur are (1) lawn/grass (2) blacktop (3) gravel (4) sand (5) ice/snow
The leading playground related injuries are (1) fractures (2) cuts/lacerations (3) bumps/bruises (4) sprains/strains/tears
The body part most likely to be injured is (1) arm (2) hand/wrist (3) head (4) forehead
Contributing factors to the injuries (1) falls (including slips/trips) (2) collisions (3) hit with thrown object (4) contact with equipment
Activities involved in playground injuries (1) playing on bars (2) running (3) football (4) soccer (5) basketball (6) swinging
(Source: Utah Department of Health/Violence & Injury Prevention Program)
