Hank Investigates: Playground Safety

Charlene Akimchuk, Marissa's Mother
"Its awful to think what she went through."

Records 7 News obtained from the consumer product safety commission reveal thousands of kids go through the same thing: 200,000 a year in the United States are raced to emergency rooms after playground accidents. In Massachusetts, that number is estimated at 4,000.

Our investigation found many of the injuries that happen on playgrounds can be prevented. The Consumer Product Safety Commission sets specific guidelines for playground equipment, but they're voluntary. There's no penalty for unsafe equipment, and that's putting your kids at risk.

Hank Phillippi Ryan
"Right now, can parents feel safe sending their children to any playground in the state?"

Barbara McEachern, Consumer Product Safety Commission
"No."

The monkey bars Marissa fell from? They are a full foot and a half higher than guidelines suggest. The hard surface she landed on is listed as unacceptable, something Marissa's mother didn't know.

Charlene Akimchuk
"It's awful to think that something so basic, the safety of the children, doesn't get followed through."

When we spot checked Bay State playgrounds, we found problems in each of them. At an Arlington school and in Boston, the CPSC found too many swings in a row. Guidelines say that's dangerous.

Barbara McEachern
"So that would greatly increase the likelihood of injuries."

We found a slide that ends too high off the ground. The recommended maximum is 15 inches and we found one that is 24.

Barbara McEachern
"So that's a considerable difference. So that would greatly increase the chances of an injury right here."

Most serious playground injuries are falls. So, guidelines recommend a shock-absorbing surface. But in Waltham we found packed dirt littered with glass, and in Lexington, just bare grass. In another playground, there's sand. The CPSC standard calls for twelve inches, but we measured just three.

The consumer watchdog MASSPIRG looked at dozens of playgrounds and confirmed the problems we found are statewide.

Dierdre Cummings, MASSPIRG
"You could be putting your child at risk"

We found that a child could swing right into the fence.

Dierdre Cummings
"It's a danger. I wouldn't let anyone play on a swing set like this."

There was also a dangerous slide in Newton. The standard for safety is six feet high. We found one 16 feet. That's more than ten feet higher than the guidelines.

Hank Phillippi Ryan
"How can a slide like this be allowed to exist in Massachusetts?"

Dierdre Cummings
"Because there are no standards or requirements to force them to change."

As a result, because administration of playgrounds is local, playground conditions depend on where you live and whether your community has the money and the will to keep them safe.

That leaves families like Marissa's deciding who to sue for medical bills.

Charlene Akimchuk
"It's too bad someone had to get hurt for anything to change."

Now, responding to our investigation, Boston Parks officials tell us they have repaired or removed dangerous equipment we identified. Other towns promise they have changes in the works. There is a bill on Beacon Hill that would require playgrounds to meet federal safety guidelines. Right now it's waiting for action.

Parents can help prevent playground injuries by making sure the playgrounds they use are safe. Click here for CPSC's Public Playground Safety Checklist.

For more information, check out CPSC's homepage.