(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — After spending a year in COVID quarantine, kids are understandably excited to get back outside and play but that already has led to an increase in playground injuries.
“Now that things are calming down and people are getting vaccinated, kids are getting outside and running around, which is wonderful,” Dr. Kristina Walick, Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon at Advocate Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn, said Wednesday.
“But we definitely are seeing injuries that are occurring at playgrounds, which include fractures, specifically at the elbow, wrist and ankle.”
Fractures are typical during the spring and summer months, but the number of playground injuries has been exacerbated by inactivity from the COVID-19 lockdown and playground closures.
“A lot of kids are having what we call overuse injuries, but it’s actually because they’re getting back out there at full force without having done anything for so long,” Walick explained.
Fractures account for about 35% of all playground injuries at emergency departments. About 50% of the extremity fractures require hospitalization and typically occur on climbing gyms, she said.
The good news is kids’ bones are incredibly resilient and strong.
“Even if a child does have an injury that ends up needing to go to the emergency room and have surgery, the outcomes of injuries in children tend to be really good and we’re able to get kids back to doing the things they love,” Walick said.
Some tips to avoid playground injuries:
-Only let one child on a playground item at a time. Injuries tend to happen more frequently when multiple kids are playing on the same piece of equipment.
-Make sure shoelaces are tied and children aren’t wearing any loose articles of clothing.
-Be aware of the weather. Rain or drizzle means kids are much more likely to lose their grip and fall.
-Look for playgrounds that have a soft surface.
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