Experts are sending a warning out to parents about tube slides at playgrounds, and how they can be a potential danger to their children. Now that the warm weather is coming, families everywhere are heading outside. They are going on hikes, vacations and visits to the playground. A playground is a great place for a child to explore, be active and burn off some steam and since they are made for children, parents may think that they are safe. That the equipment has to be “OK” since they were put here for children to use. However, children are always getting bumps and bruises from falling, which is normal, but there may be some other hazards that mom needs to pay attention to.

According to Medical Xpress and The Conversation, experts are sending a reminder to parents that the popular giant tube slides can be a hazard, and can result in broken legs in young children.

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There are always risks when it comes to child play, but a parent’s job is to try and reduce the number of risks, especially the ones that could result in serious injury. Experts in Australia looked at the latest increase of tube slide installations, something that is already popular in the western world, and they found that the rates of injuries have increased.

One of the most serious injuries was a 4-year-old girl who was riding down the slide with her dad, and she ended up breaking both of her legs. When her mom went to social media to share her story, she was met with hundreds of parents who shared injuries as well, including fractures and facial injuries.

Another slide had been closed down due to knee fractures and dislocations being reported to authorities. Showing that these slides may be fun, but parents and kids need to proceed with caution.

The reason these slides can be so hazardous is that they allow the child to go faster than normal down the tube. If the child weighs less, or is wearing slippery clothes, this can cause them to go even faster, and when the rider twists and turns inside the tube, they have the chance of getting a limp stuck in an awkward position, and then breaking.

Also, if the rider is not able to slow down on their own, they are going to “shoot” out of the bottom at a high speed which could increase the risk of injury. It is important for parents to be aware of the potential risks so that they can use caution when allowing their children to slide down them.

Sources: Medical Xpress, The Conversation