Advocates hope to make child's play safer

In Utah in 2004, 27 percent of injuries in elementary school students occurred on playgrounds, according to the Utah Department of Health. A total of 4,703 were injured badly enough to need medical treatment, and 74 were hospitalized.

Three-quarters of those injuries were from falls, according to the department.

When finished, Fitts Park will feature a playground for small children and another for school-age children. The two play areas, separated by a large plastic dragon, will have clean lines of sight from nearby benches. The entire playground and some of the equipment will be accessible for children in wheelchairs.

The whole complex, to be built on a hill, will be surrounded by a U-shaped fence that will keep children away from the canals.

"We're trying to sort of empower parents," Pruitt said. "We want to make it easier for them to supervise their children."

For more safety information, visit injuryfree.org or playgroundsafety.org. To donate to the Fitts playground or to volunteer for the renovation, call South Salt Lake city offices at 583-6000.

Safety tips for parents

• Always supervise children on playgrounds.

• Do not allow children using playgrounds to wear bicycle helmets, which can cause strangulation.

• Check the temperature of all playground equipment; even plastic can get very hot.

• Tour parks with children and point out dangerous areas.

• Speak up — work with local governments to mitigate safety and crime problems.

Source: Injuryfree.org and Primary Children's Medical Center

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E-mail: rpalmer@desnews.com