Citation

Sosin DM, Keller P, Sacks JJ, Kresnow M, van Dyck PC. Am. J. Public Health 1993; 83(5): 733-735.

Affiliation

Division of Field Epidemiology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, American Public Health Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8484459

PMCID

PMC1694671

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to estimate surface-specific rates of fall injuries on school playgrounds. Playground injuries related to falls from climbing equipment and the surfaces involved were identified from injury reports for 1988 to 1990 from 157 Utah elementary schools. Enrollment data and playground inspections were used to estimate student-years spent over each surface. The fall injury rates per 10,000 student-years were asphalt, 44; grass, 12; mats, 16; gravel, 15; and sand, 7. These data did not show that impact-absorbing surfaces reduce fall injuries on playgrounds better than grass. Improved field studies are needed to guide policy decisions for playground surfacing.