As a parent, you constantly worry about your child’s safety when he is out of sight. You know that accidents can happen any time, anywhere. While you try to trust your son’s Waco school to provide a safe space, you still worry that you will get a call that there has been an accident. While playground manufacturers have made recent strides in providing safer equipment, injuries are still very possible.
One of the things you can do as a parent to provide extra protection for your child, is to learn about the most common playground injuries and to teach him to be cautious while he is playing.
Breaks, fractures and sprains
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), children between the ages of 5 and 9 are more likely to sustain a fracture or sprain while playing. All it takes is one loose rock on the playground to cause an ankle to turn. Fortunately, children tend to heal much faster because their bones are still flexible since they are growing. If your child suffers a break or sprain, be sure you alert his teachers so that they can keep a closer eye on him while he continues to heal.
Concussions and other head injuries
In general, the climbing equipment on playgrounds is the most popular. It also causes the most injuries. In many cases, children are not even aware of the severity of their injuries if they fall and hit their heads. This means that instead of alerting a teacher or other adult, they try to keep playing. If your child starts to display light sensitivity, dizziness, headaches or nausea, then he could have a head injury. Other indicators include drowsiness, looking dazed or confused, irritability, and slow responses to basic questions.
Joint dislocation
Joint dislocations are another common injury that children suffer on the playground. It does not take much force for an arm or elbow dislocation to occur in a child. If this happens, take him to the doctor and let a medical professional put it back into place. If you attempt to do so yourself, you risk causing further injury. Signs of dislocation include redness and swelling around the joint, difficulty moving the joint or limb, and even irritability or agitation.
Scrapes and bruises
Scrapes, cuts and bruises tend to be the wear and tear most children come home with on a regular basis. While these playground injuries tend to be minor, if you do not properly treat them, infection can set in and they can become much more serious. When it comes to cuts and scrapes, be sure you are treating them with antiseptic ointments and regularly changing the bandages. If your child has a bruise that does not seem to be fading and lasts longer than a week, it could be an indication of an internal injury and you should seek medical treatment immediately.
While understanding the above injuries can prepare your child to stay safe on the playground, it is not possible to prevent every accident. If your child suffers a playground injury while at school due to lack of adult supervision or faulty equipment, you may be able to take legal action.