Falls account for approximately 70 percent of these injuries, and many involve playground equipment. Between 15 and 20 children in the United States die annually from playground-related injuries. Of these deaths, strangulation's account for about 47 percent and falls for about 31 percent. Playground injuries are the leading cause of injuries to students, ages 5 to 14, in the school environment. Hard surfaces, such as asphalt, concrete, dirt, glass or brick are ineffective, since they do not absorb falls.
Acceptable alternatives are wood products, pea gravel, sand, and rubber products.
The surface type, depth and area covered all contribute to safe play environments. A well designed playground should also include play equipment that is accessible to children with special needs. Equipment needs ongoing care. If you see something broken or needing maintenance, report it to playground officials. Lack of proper supervision contributes to approximately 40 percent of playground-related injuries.