Injury Hazards in Outdoor Play Areas of Family Day Care Homes

Abstract

One hundred twenty eight family day care homes (FDCHs) in the Houston metropolitan area were assessed as part of a larger study to determine the prevalence of injury hazards in outdoor play areas. Hazards were found in the play areas outside 93% of the homes. Thirty-three percent of the homes did not have a fenced play area. In 41% of FDCHs open crawl spaces under buildings were judged accessible to the children. Play equipment was often unstable, installed over a non-impact absorbent surface and had been constructed with improperly sized openings for preschooler safety. Interventions and regulations aimed at influencing FDCHs to maintain safe play areas should focus on educating caregivers about childhood injuries, the dangers of debris in the play area, the importance of fenced play areas, and the need for impact-absorbent play surfaces for preschoolers.