Playgrounds in Hollywood, Florida should be a fun and safe place for children to play. Unfortunately, each year about half a million American children are injured on the nation’s playgrounds, according to the CDC (National Centers For Disease Control and Prevention).
Common Playground Injuries
Playground injuries in Hollywood can happen due to:
- Bullying and violence
- Falls from monkey bars and heights
- Trip and fall injuries
- Exposure to toxic chemicals or dangerous items on playgrounds
- Falls on playground equipment
- Faulty equipment
- Poorly-maintained playgrounds
- Lack of supervision
Children can suffer traumatic brain injuries, lacerations, fractures, and other serious injuries on playgrounds.
Preventing Childhood Injuries on Hollywood Playgrounds
You can reduce your child’s risk with these tips:
- Be choosy about playgrounds: Always choose age-appropriate playgrounds. Toddlers need play areas designed specifically for them. They can be seriously injured on play equipment intended for older kids. Look for newer, well-maintained playgrounds, which are less likely to have toxic pressure-treated wood.
- Inspect the playground before each use: Before letting your children play, check that the surface under monkey bars, slides, and other heights is thick and well-maintained. Look for sharp objects, such as broken glass, and for any signs of dangerous wear and tear on the play equipment. Check for any signs of tampering or any hazards in the immediate area.
- Supervise carefully: Even very safe playgrounds can be unsafe for children when kids are not supervised. Good-quality playgrounds have clear lines of sight so you can see your children at all times. It’s also a good idea to have more than one adult at the playground so you can supervise together. More eyes on the kids always means safer play.
- Report any hazards and follow up: If you notice any unusual activity at your child’s playground, any worn playground equipment, poor lighting, broken rungs, thinning ground cover, or any other dangers, report the item to the playground’s owners. Follow up in a week or two to make sure the issue is resolved.
Whether a playground is at a condo building, apartment complex, public park, school, or another public location, the owners of the property and the playground are expected to properly maintain the area and keep it safe. They may be expected to:
- Regularly inspect the area
- Make the play area compliant with local, state, and federal bylaws
- Update the area
- Immediately remove or repair any equipment which has been deemed unsafe or which has been recalled.
- Keep the area well-lit
- Install security cameras or hire someone to protect the property if there are crimes in the area
- Fence in the playground area if there is a concern about danger in the area
- Correctly install playground equipment to ensure safety
- Provide an area for proper supervision
- Place signage, indicating the proper use of pieces of equipment
If despite your efforts your child is injured on a playground, contact Flaxman Law Group at 1-866-352-9626 (1-866-FLAXMAN) for a free accident consultation with a Hollywood child injury claims attorney. Our team has worked with many plaintiffs whose children have been injured at an unsafe or poorly maintained property.