title: The effect of surface and season on playground injury rates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effect of season on playground surface injury rates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Injuries were identified through student incident report forms used in school districts in Calgary (Alberta) and the surrounding area. Playground surface exposure data were estimated based on school enrollment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 539 injuries were reported during the 2007/2008 school year. Abrasions, bruises and inflammation were the most frequently reported injuries. The head, neck or face were most commonly injured. Injury rates per 1000 student days ranged between 0.018 (rubber crumb in spring) and 0.08 (poured-in-place and natural rock in the fall). Rubber crumb surfacing, compared with natural rock, had a significantly lower rate of injury in the spring, but no other season-surface comparisons were statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rates of injury were similar for natural rock, poured-in-place, and crushed rock in the fall and winter. There was some evidence of a lower rate of injury on rubber crumb surfaces in the spring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics;
authors.forename: Lara Joan
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Branson
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Latter
authors.forename: Gillian R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Currie
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nettel-Aguirre
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Embree
authors.forename: Brent Edward
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Hagel
keywords: Children; Injury; Play; School