Playgrounds have been improved now compared to the olden days. Monkey bars and hot metal slides have been replaced by colorful plastic castles with guardrails and ramps and rounded edges.
Many new playgrounds are covered with soft wood mulch or springy rubber chips made from recycled tires, instead of blacktop and concrete.
Experts say, yet with many improvements, playgrounds still fall short on safety. Chrissy Cianflone of Safe Kids USA says, about 200,000 kids every year go to emergency rooms because of playground injuries.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission says, injuries mostly occur when kids fall from equipment. And though many parents try to be vigilant, even those with eagle eyes and sharp reflexes can’t always rush to the rescue in time.
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