Two Children Had Their Fingers Amputated After Going Down a Slide
We all know that playgrounds, while fun, can be a bit dangerous. The countless numbers of skinned knees alone is enough to make any parent a little worried when visiting their favorite park. But there is a sort of hidden danger that many of us don't think about: those steel slides.
Often times a slide is considered one of the safer options for young children, but we've just learned startling news today about two kids who had their fingers amputated by going down a stainless steel slide, and to be honest, it's truly eyeopening.
Playwork, the company which manufactured the slides where the injuries occurred is issuing a recall due to a weld where the slide bed and sidewall can crack open. This is where kids' fingers can get caught in the space, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
So far, they've received 13 reports of kids getting cut from the slide, including those two children who had their fingers amputated. The slides in question are made were sold primarily to parks and schools from November 2000 to October 2016. Here's where the cracks are located:
If you go to a public park, it's tough to know exactly where the equipment came from, and the CPSC notes that the recalled slides don't have any distinguishable markings. The CPSC is urging people to stop using the slides immediately, and contact Playworld for a free replacement. They're also shipping temporary barriers to put on the slide to keep kids from going on it.
So, what can you do at the park? Try to inspect the slides and make sure there aren't any holes or cracks on the slide bed - don't assume the equipment in your park is safe or up to regulations.
And remember, this isn't the first time kids have gotten injured by a faulty slide. Children have suffered serious injuries and even died from getting clothing or body parts tangled on protrusions and gaps in the slides, according to the CPSC. Uncoated metal slides can also cause serious burns if they're in direct sunlight, even in mild weather. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately in pants and a shirt, and avoid anything with dangly cloth that could get stuck in a slide.
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