Time to Prevent Concussions (TBI) in Playgrounds
Vol 8 Issue 1, Sept 2016
There are two very opposite views of injury prevention in playgrounds. We have those who have longrecognized the devastating effects of head injuries in playgrounds1,2,3,4, which includes a high enough frequency to be a public health concern5,6,7, while others dismiss the issue as non-existent8, inconsequential9, statistically immaterial10, having no merit or not been thought through11. It would appear that two recent studies provide critical information that concussions are occurring in playgrounds at increasing rates12 and pediatric concussions are more complex and debilitating than previously reported13. These are the latest studies in a more than 45 year history of information related to injury prevention on playgrounds and it is time that prevention mechanisms are put into place to ensure that this devastation is significantly reduced.
The recent study by the CDC, outlines the problem of concussions as a result of falls in playgrounds is not going away, in fact it is increasing14. Where children present with multiple injuries such as fracture and concussion, the fracture is captured leaving
the concussion15 as unaccounted for in the statistics resulting in a significant under reporting16. Almost released simultaneously is the study reporting that childhood concussions of the type documented by the CDC, take as long as two years to resolve17. The CDC also reported that the injuries actually are taking place in playgrounds and are the result of falls to the surfacing.
For the full newletter please downlaod the PDF.
There are two very opposite views of injury prevention in playgrounds. We have those who have longrecognized the devastating effects of head injuries in playgrounds1,2,3,4, which includes a high enough frequency to be a public health concern5,6,7, while others dismiss the issue as non-existent8, inconsequential9, statistically immaterial10, having no merit or not been thought through11. It would appear that two recent studies provide critical information that concussions are occurring in playgrounds at increasing rates12 and pediatric concussions are more complex and debilitating than previously reported13. These are the latest studies in a more than 45 year history of information related to injury prevention on playgrounds and it is time that prevention mechanisms are put into place to ensure that this devastation is significantly reduced.
The recent study by the CDC, outlines the problem of concussions as a result of falls in playgrounds is not going away, in fact it is increasing14. Where children present with multiple injuries such as fracture and concussion, the fracture is captured leaving
the concussion15 as unaccounted for in the statistics resulting in a significant under reporting16. Almost released simultaneously is the study reporting that childhood concussions of the type documented by the CDC, take as long as two years to resolve17. The CDC also reported that the injuries actually are taking place in playgrounds and are the result of falls to the surfacing.
For the full newletter please downlaod the PDF.
HEAD OFFICE
Canadian Playground Advisory
1097 West River Rd.
Cambridge, Ontario
N1R 5S5
T: 416-410-7506
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