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According to the National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS), over 200 thousand children are injured at U.S. playgrounds each year. NPPS was founded in 1995 to help address the issue of playground safety as there is "no nationally coordinated effort".

"Since the week of April 20, 2015, is National Playground Safety Week, we feel it is important to share the following information," said Fort Myers Child Injury Attorney, Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children ((NAEYC) offers the following tips for keeping safe on the playground:

1. Conduct a quick survey before children are allowed to play. Make sure:

• The area is designed so adults can supervise children at all times.
• The playground is free of hazards. For example, make sure the ground is free of trash and broken glass.
• There is safety surfacing beneath equipment, especially under climbing materials. Look for a thick layer of mulch, sand, or synthetic shock-absorbing surfacing, such as shredded rubber.
• The equipment is in good repair. Rust, exposed nails or screws, and loose pieces can be hazardous. Plastics should be free of cracks and wood free of splinters.
• There is adequate shading. If equipment is metal, ensure it is not too hot.

2. Steer children to age-appropriate equipment because playgrounds are often designed for multiple age groups. Preschoolers should have low platforms, short ladders, shorter slides, smaller steps and crawl spaces and no rope or chain climbers hung at an angle, horizontal bars or sliding poles.
3. Discuss playground safety.
4. Discuss safety measures with children such as making sure they take turns and can see an adult.

Playgrounds are supposed to be fun and safe. Safe places for children to play. But that is not always the case:

A 7-year-old girl died in October 2014 after she reportedly sustained a head injury while playing at an elementary school playground.

In January 2015 a 4-year-old-girl died in Colorado after falling into an icy pond which was not fenced off at the Loveland Sports Park.

Playground accidents happen for many reasons, not the least of which are playground equipment defects and negligence. These include:

• Equipment that is defective or faulty
• Equipment that is improperly, or not, maintained
• Inadequate or poor surfacing under playground equipment
• Inappropriate height of playground equipment for children
• Failure to have age-appropriate playground equipment
• Inadequate supervision of children
• Failure to post warning signs of potential safety hazards
• Failure to fence playgrounds to insure children are safe from ponds, lakes, traffic

"Children's playground accidents may be as small as bruised knees. However, they may be more serious especially when they occur because of  defects or negligence. How safe is your playground? Contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys P.A. if your child is injured in a playground accident," said Attorney Spivey.

Fort Myers Child Injury Attorney,  Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.