Falls and Playground Injury

In Canada, as in other parts of the world, unintentional falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalization among children and youth. According to “The Economic Burden of Unintentional Injury in Canada”, one of the more expensive unintentional injuries in Canada is falls to children under nine years of age. These injuries cost Canadians about $630 million each year.
Source: The Economic Burden of Unintentional Injury in Canada, SMARTRISK, 1998.

Nine children died from falls in Canada in the year 2000 with the following age breakdown: 1-4 (four), 5-9 (one), 10-14 (four).
Source: Statistics Canada: Canadian Vital Statistics, Catalogue #84-208-XIE, 2000

Eighteen deaths related to playground equipment occurred between 1982 and 1999.
Source: Health Canada

Playground equipment and surfacing that do not meet current standards can be a major cause of serious injury for children in Canada. Health Canada estimates that about 28,500 children under the age of 15 are treated in hospital emergency rooms annually, for injuries related to playground equipment. Falls, usually to the ground surface below equipment, account for approximately 75% of all playground-related injuries.
Source: health Canada/Safe Kids Canada, 2000