The National Injury Foundation statistics show playgrounds as the most injury-intensive activity in primary schools, with up to 80% of all primary school injuries occurring on the playground.

Accidents on and around the playground account for a statistically significant percentage (around 15% in many school districts) of injuries to all children in school.

Six years of school injury data show that the top five causes of injury on the playgrounds are as follows:

• Falls from equipment 25%
• Athletic participation (in a game) 17%
• Slip, trip, or fall 16%
• Struck against object 13%
• Struck by object 11%
• All others 18%

In almost half of the playground injuries, equipment was involved. The types of equipment most frequently involved in school playground injuries are as follows:

• Bars 29%
• Balls, bats, racquets 23% (tetherballs, baseball bats)
• Composite structures 14% (like Big Toys)
• Climbing apparatus 10%
• Non-play equipment 8% (such as poles & posts)
• Swings (including tire swings) 7%
• Slides 5%
• Other play equipment 3%
• Tires & tire climbers 1%

The most severe school playground claims involve equipment and being hit with balls.