Falls off playground equipment

Specialties School

Published

Every once in a while I get a call to come to the playground because someone has fallen off the equipment and they are afraid to let the child move until I check them out. How do I know for sure they are ok? I usually assess how far they have fallen since I know double their height or more can be dangerous. I will do a neuro check and see how they are feeling but is there something else I should be doing? I'm always worried that I'm going to miss something and paralyze them.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

It can be dangerous - but falls are usually considered in to designing playgrounds - that's why the big toys are usually padded by thick layers of mulch. The key is that the mulch layer gets insepcted and replaced from time to time - it's never as thick and lush as when the playground is first installed.

It sounds like you are assessing them right - neuro checks, check for pain, sensation, dizziness, nausea, etc... My protocol is that they are not leaving me for a good 30 minutes after a high fall - even if it seems like they are ok. Plus there will be a FYI CYA call to home.

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Thank you! That's good to know!

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