Experts Call for Ban on Monkey Bars
For a long time, we have known that monkey bars cause a large number of playground accidents in children. Now there is a concerted effort to get rid of these bars.
The monkey bars can be a danger.
When safety is questioned, monkey bars and trampolines are the play equipment that most often elicits responses like “Never done me any harm!” (or “Nanny State!”) but, the evidence shows us that these pieces of play equipment do indeed pose a serious risk to children.
Experts say that the monkey bars can’t be removed quickly enough.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, “Monkey bars may have been ok when I was young, but not in 2018”
Over the last decade, there was a 41% increase in emergency department visits in Victoria due to monkey bar injuries. Lisa Sharwood, a University of Sydney injury epidemiologist says that there were 14 167 emergency department presentations related to monkey bars. Eighty-one percent of these cases involved children aged five to nine years old.
The majority involve fractured bones, as we have reported before. The most common cause of injury to small children is playground falls.
Enjoy the fun without the fractures.
Professor Eager, despite what proponents of monkey bars might claim, is not the fun cop. He’s a fun advocate who wants to replace dangerous monkey bars with more fun, inclusive, and risky, yet safe, spatial nets.
The SMH reported that the Professor did not want playgrounds to be free of risk. “On the other hand, he believes that exposing kids to risk is crucial in raising happy and well-balanced children. He said monkey bars are dangerous.
The Professor told SMH where space nets replaced monkey bars, the injury rate has fallen.
Professor stated that “monkey bars are so popular during recess and lunchtime, kids fight for them. They jostle for position. It’s one of many factors contributing to injuries.” “Spatial nets” are much safer and have 50 kids using them. They still ask, “Have you any more that you can give me?”
Experts warn that the number of injuries on monkey bars has been on the rise.
According to the Doctor of the University of Sydney’s Injury Epidemiology, the monkey bar is one of the most common playground injuries among children.
She has been working with Monash University’s Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit to conduct research that will be published in the coming months. The study found a 41% rise in emergency department visits in Victoria due to monkey bar injuries in the last decade.
She told Fairfax Media that there were 14,167 emergency department presentations related to monkey bars, 81% of which involved children aged five to nine years.
Over the same period, there have been 6430 admissions to hospital as a result of injuries caused by monkey bars. The majority of these injuries will be broken bones – upper leg and ankle – and many will require surgery.
A professor of risk management and the chair of Standards Australia’s Technical Committee CS005 Playground equipment, has spoken previously to touch on the need to increase risk in playgrounds.
However, told Fairfax Media that he did not believe monkey bars are a good addition to public and school playgrounds. He recommended replacing them with space nets which could break the fall of a child who takes a tumble.
He said that “most councils and schools are replacing monkey bars with spatial nets, but not as quickly as they would like.”
Comments on IPWEA Facebook were mixed. Some saw the change from monkey bars to space nets as logical. But the majority thought it was a slippery path and wondered what else would be removed.
Are your kids still using monkey bars on the playground? Playground safety tips to prevent emergency room visits
Every 2-1/2 minutes, a child in the United States visits an emergency room for a playground-related injury, according to playgroundsafety.org. A recent study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that more than 20,000 children aged 14 and under are treated in emergency departments each year for playground-related brain injuries.
All of us want our kids to play and be safe. We all want our children to play, and we all want them to be safe.
We can reduce or even avoid playground injuries if we take the time and become aware of potential hazards. Spend some time focusing on the outdoor areas where your children play. Our children will be safer if we all take action to identify and address unsafe playgrounds and equipment.
Inspect Your Playground
Regular inspections are required to ensure that playgrounds receive the necessary repairs and maintenance. By inspecting the equipment and reporting unsafe items, you can help your playground. Here are a few tips:
- Check the surfaces underneath the play structures. The cushion should be there to protect your child if they fall or jump.
- Check for any hazards on playground equipment, such as sharp edges, wood splinters, or loose bolts. Remove any animal waste or trash that could make your playground unattractive or unsafe.
- Old, unsafe equipment should be identified. Many playgrounds are removing monkey bars because they cause injuries.
Practice Safe Game
You can prevent playground injuries by ensuring that children play safely. Here’s what you can do:
- Dress your children appropriately. Avoid letting your child wear clothing that can catch on playground equipment. Take off necklaces, purses, and clothing with drawstrings.
- Wear the right shoes. Avoid letting them wear flip-flops or sandals that can make their feet less secure.
- Play nice. Teach them to be cooperative, to take turns, to share, and to play nice. Pushing and pushing cannot be tolerated.
- Supervise. Always supervise children. Playing safely and with respect is important. Swings need to be placed far enough from other equipment so that children are not hit by swings in motion. Playing with little kids is different from playing with big kids.
Take Action
Continue to raise awareness about playground safety. Here’s how:
- Report unsafe playground equipment to the park authority, or the owner if you can.
- Ask your children and parents what they think about the playground equipment.
- Challenge your school to a week of no injuries on the playground.
- Ask your elected officials for their help in promoting safe playgrounds and environments for children.
- Invite a local journalist or another local celebrity to speak at a few schools or parks about the importance of safe play.
- Write to your local newspaper and praise parks that are safe, while identifying those that are not.
Monkey Bar Safety Guide
Categories:
- General Safety
- Safety Guidance
Children can develop strength and agility with monkey bars. They are not risk-free. Our data indicates that playground injuries are a major cause of these falls.
The high center of gravity of children makes them more likely to land head-first. Also, the reflexes designed to protect kids from serious injuries, such as extending their arms while falling, can result in minor but still significant injuries to the hands, wrists, and arms.
No matter how children injure themselves on monkey bars the following protocols offer a comprehensive solution to keep climbers safe.
Eliminate Exposure to Younger Children:
- Be sure that children only use equipment appropriate to their age.
- The monkey bars should not be used by children younger than 8. They lack the upper body strength necessary to safely traverse them.
Check that the Equipment is Built Properly:
- To prevent entrapment, measure the bars and make sure they are at least 9″ apart.
- To prevent head injuries, ensure that the monkey bars are supported by a surface of at least 9″ in thickness.
- Remember that even a surface of 9″ may not be enough to reduce fractures and lesser injuries.
Before each use, inspect the equipment:
- If necessary, wipe the monkey bars to ensure they are dry.
- Under the monkey bars, look for debris and other hazards.
- Check that each bar is tight.
- Check for damage or disintegration to the surface material beneath the bars.
Give children instructions on how to use monkey bars safely:
- To maintain proper spacing, only one child at a given time should cross the monkey bars.
- You cannot stand on top of the bar, hang upside down, or play games with others to try and knock them off.
- You should not stand or walk under the bars if someone is using them.
Hands-on Support for Children:
- At least one member of staff should be nearby to supervise the monkey bars.
- A staff member can act as a spotter to prevent children under the fourth grade from falling and dislocating their limbs.
Prevent unsupervised use:
- Post signs warning children of potential injury, even if they are not with their parents.
- You cannot expect children to understand or follow the signs.
- As an additional precaution, lock the playground area to prevent unattended usage.
Many school districts and cities have removed monkey bars entirely from their new designs and the existing ones. If monkey bars are still present on your playgrounds, you should review your practices and implement any necessary protocols to ensure the safety of your children, especially those who are younger.
Playground Safety: Avoiding common injuries
Slides. Swings. Monkey bars.
On warm summer days, playgrounds are popular, but Beaumont Children’s experts in emergency care encourage parents to be vigilant, as there is the potential for serious injuries. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 200,000 U.S. children visit emergency rooms in hospitals every year due to playground injuries.
Always apply sunscreen before letting your child play on the playground. Summer sun can burn easily. On hot days, you should also check the temperature of slides and other equipment. Even plastic slides are capable of heating up to the point where they can burn a child. The skin of a child burns more quickly than that of an adult.
The physician at Beaumont Children’s Pediatric Emergency Center, says that parents should choose a playground suited to their child’s age.
Find structures that are low to the ground for toddlers and young children. For a softer landing, it is important to cover the ground. Rubber or wood chips are the best. “Avoid broken equipment”, The Doctor said
The Doctor adds: “Bike helmets should only be worn by children who are riding bicycles. They shouldn’t be used on playground equipment.” Bike helmets are a strangulation hazard on playground equipment.
Recent government research on playgrounds revealed that 67 percent of injuries were caused by falls or equipment failure. Visit the playground alone before bringing your child. If you find anything that you think might be dangerous, choose a different playground to take your child.
It’s easy to be distracted while your children or grandchildren play by sending text messages or reading emails on your phone. Dr. Minnock believes that many injuries could be avoided if parents kept their phones in their pockets and focused on their children.
Encourage your children to drink plenty of water and take frequent breaks to prevent dehydration.
