The effect of surface and season on playground injury rates

Comparison of Korean School Students' Safety Accident Rates before and after COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected various aspects of education, including the occurrence of injuries among Korean students. This study aims to analyze and compare injury rates in elementary, middle, and high schools before and after the pandemic and identify the associated factors. A non-experimental quantitative dataset compiled from the Korea School Safety Association's annual reports (2018-2022) was utilized. The data included information on school safety accidents among Korean children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. The dataset was analyzed based on factors such as time, location, type of accident, and injured body part. The findings revealed a decline in accidents during the early phase of the pandemic, followed by an increase after schools reopened. There were notable variations in the accidents in specific locations, types, and body parts affected during the pandemic, compared with the pre-pandemic period. This study highlights the importance of continuous monitoring, implementation of safety measures, and prioritization of physical activity programs and safety education to ensure a safe learning environment. Further research is recommended to track and address evolving school accidents in response to the pandemic and its aftermath.

Don't take down the monkey bars: Rapid systematic review of playground-related injuries

OBJECTIVE

To synthesize the available evidence on playground-related injuries and to determine the prevalence of these injuries in pediatric populations.

DATA SOURCES

A rapid systematic review was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library, as well as the gray literature.

STUDY SELECTION

The search was limited to studies published between 2012 and 2016 and identified a total of 858 articles, of which 22 met our inclusion criteria: original quantitative studies published in peer-reviewed journals in the past 5 years, concerning unintentional injuries in playgrounds in children aged 0 to 18 years.

SYNTHESIS

Information was collected on study and injury characteristics, and the proportion of pediatric injuries related to playground activity was determined. Studies were performed in various countries and most were retrospective cohort studies. The prevalence of playground-related injury ranged from 2% to 34% (median 10%). Studies varied in the types of injuries investigated, including head injuries, genitourinary injuries, ocular and dental trauma, and various types of fractures. Most injuries were low severity.

CONCLUSION

Although playgrounds are a common location where pediatric injuries occur, these injuries are relatively low in frequency and severity.