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The aim of this study was to determine the incidence rate and to determine the etiology and the severity of accidents caused by playground equipment during the period 1.1.1989-31.12.1989 and to compare the results with the study made by Christensen et al (1-3). The number of children aged below 15 years was 42,635. A total of 270 playground accidents were registered, which resulted in an incidence rate of 6.3 per 1,000 children per year. This is a reduction from 9.3 per 1,000 children per year in 1981. The incidence rates between boys and girls were 7.0 and 5.6 per 1,000 children per year, as compared with respectively. The sex ratio for the population studied was 1.31 to 1 as compared with 1.44 to 1 in 1981. The sex ratio in the background population was 1.05 both in 1981 and 1989. The greatest number of accidents were seen in spring, especially in April and May. Swings, climbing frames, slides, playhouses and playcastles were responsible for 80% of the accidents. The etiologies were fall accidents in 211 cases, being caught between two objects in 17 cases, being kit by an object in 21 cases and different causes in 21 cases. The underlying surfaces were sufficiently soft in 24% of the cases. The severity of the injury was classified according to the Abbreviated Injury Scale and was found to be: no lesions 1.1%, minor lesions 70%, moderate lesions 25.1% and severe lesions 3.7%. A total of 17 patients were admitted and of these 13 patients had fractures. The possibilities of reducing the number of injuries resulting from playground equipment are discussed.

In order to illustrate the severity of accidents with playground equipment, two cases of fractures in the hip region in children are presented. Both accidents occurred when the children fell on hard surface without the necessary shock absorbing properties as recommended by the Danish Standards. It should be impossible for a child falling accidentally from playground equipment to attain deceleration levels exceeding 50 G at the impact with the underlying surface.

A life-threatening case of accidental strangulation caused by play-ground equipment (in this case a play house) is described. The new standardized recommendation about playground equipment had not been observed. Attention is drawn to this case in order to improve the safety of playground equipment.