Awareness and First Aid

Play is important for your child, but safety should always come first, even when they’re having fun at the playground.

Ouch! Playgrounds are meant to be fun, but kids can get hurt while playing on seesaws, jungle gyms, and swings. Each year, about 200 000 children in South Africa end up in emergency rooms due to playground accidents. Things like unsafe equipment, lack of supervision, and weather conditions can contribute to these injuries. Knowing how to prevent accidents and what to do if one happens can greatly reduce the risk of serious, long-term effects.

Dealing with spinal injuries

ER24 emergency care practitioner Esna Bouwer says if you suspect a child has sustained a spinal injury, call ER24 immediately. If you notice signs of whiplash, loss of consciousness, or if the child feels numbness or tingling in their limbs, keep their spine still and wait for emergency help to arrive.

“Moving the child in such instances could lead to permanent damage,” she explains. “If the school has a trauma board or a scoop stretcher and someone trained in first aid, they can safely secure the child on the board with head blocks. If not, they should use manual inline stabilisation (MILS).”

For MILS, stand or kneel at the child’s head, facing their feet. Place both hands gently on the sides of their head, gripping the bony areas behind the ears. Keep the head aligned with the body, without tilting or turning it.

Signs of concussion

There are several symptoms to watch out for after a head injury that suggest concussion. These include:

  • Decreased consciousness or confusion, even for just a few seconds
  • Nausea and vomiting, even days after the fall
  • Double vision
  • Amnesia (not knowing what happened just before or after the accident).

If a concussion is suspected, take the child to the emergency room. Doctors will decide the best treatment, which may include a CT scan to check for skull fractures or bleeding in the brain.

“You know your own child. If they don’t seem right a few hours or even days after the accident, and if there’s any sign of concussion, they should see a doctor,” advises Bouwer.

Act fast with choking

Playtime and eating should be separate because running while eating can lead to choking. If a child is choking, the Heimlich Manoeuvre (abdominal thrusts) can help save their life. “If the Heimlich Manoeuvre dislodges the object, the child should be fine and won’t need help from paramedics,” says Bouwer. “However, if the child loses consciousness and stops breathing, start CPR right away and call for emergency help. They will need a laryngoscopy (medical examination of the back of the throat), intubation, and oxygen to survive.”

Don’t panic

Once the ER24 team has arrived, parents, teachers or caregivers can help to keep the injured child calm while the paramedics do their work.

“One mom I met at a playground accident scene kept her son calm by stroking his hair and playing a kids’ show on her phone to distract him while I put up a drip,” Bouwer recalls. “It made it easier for me to give him pain medication and plan how to immobilise and move him. Parents can have a tremendously calming effect on children. If the parent doesn’t panic, the child will also be calmer.”

Preventing playground injuries

Bouwer offers these tips for parents, caregivers, and teachers to help prevent playground injuries:

  • Don’t let children eat while playing on the playground, as it can lead to choking. It’s important to have them sit down and eat their food. Children tend to choke when they’re in a hurry.
  • Regularly check and maintain playground equipment at schools, public parks, and home play areas. Rusty metal, loose screws, splintered wood, and sun-heated tyre swings can cause accidents.
  • Choose equipment that’s suitable for your child’s age. For example, don’t let your three-year-old play on monkey bars without holding them, as their arms aren’t strong enough to support their body weight.
  • Always supervise your child. Although you can’t prevent every fall, if an accident happens, you can respond quickly, manage the situation, and call ER24 right away.
  • If possible, place soft surfaces, like an old mattress, under high play equipment. While falls may still happen, they can help reduce the risk of fractures.

It’s also a good idea to teach your child to memorise an emergency number for a hospital or EMS service in your area in the event of an accident. Even if there’s an adult present, they may be too panicky or not know who to call.

Children’s bones are soft and grow quickly, so if they break or fracture, don’t wait to get to a hospital. If not treated right away, the bone may heal incorrectly and cause problems with growth, possibly requiring surgery later, adds Bouwer.

“It’s also important for children not to develop negative associations with pain, as this can affect them for the rest of their lives. If we can manage the pain and fractures as best as we can at a young age, there’s a better chance they won’t experience long-term disability or nerve pain.”