Birmingham experiences 224% more A&E visits by toddlers than any other area in the West Midlands

Britain’s playgrounds are slowly turning into an increasingly unsafe space for the nation’s children as research revealed that one in three children (32%) have suffered an accident or injury believed to be due to poor quality or dangerous equipment.

With this in mind, Harlow Leisurezone analysed data from the Department of Health & Social Care to reveal which areas in the West Midlands experience the most A&E visits for children between 0-4 years old. In the West Midlands, the average number of hospital visits by 0–4-year-olds is 20,097, but the most unsafe area for toddlers is Birmingham, ranking highest with a shocking total of 65,185 hospital admissions from April 2023 – that’s 224% higher than the average! 

Staffordshire placed second with 32,010 recorded cases and Warwickshire followed closely in third with 24,955 A&E visits. Rounding out the top five is Coventry and Sandwell with 24,015 and 21,985, respectively. 

Herefordshire has been revealed as the safest area in the West Midlands for children to avoid hospital trips with just 5,800 total cases from April 2023. 

Health and Fitness Manager David Marrington at Harlow Leisurezone commented:  

“Playgrounds are a fantastic place for children to develop their physical and social skills, but safety should always come first. By ensuring equipment is well-maintained, encouraging safe play, and supervising, we can help reduce the risk of accidents and injuries.” 

Age-appropriate play: “Always make sure the playground is designed for your child’s age group, avoid letting them climb tall structures meant for older children and keep boundaries between the little ones and older kids to make sure there is respect and understanding in the toddler areas.” 

Check equipment: “Inspect swings, slides and climbing frames for damage before letting your child use them and prioritise grass, rubber and sand surfaces.” 

Safe play habits: “Always encourage your child to keep both hands on any bars whilst climbing and not to jump from high equipment unless a guardian is there to help. Remember to tell your child to slide feet first and wait for others to clear the bottom of the slide before going.” 

Weather awareness: “The enjoyment of a play park can be impacted by the weather so it important to check for slippery surfaces in wet conditions and avoid metal slides and equipment in extreme heat to prevent burns.” 

Supervision: “It is important to always keep an eye on your child, especially toddlers, and keep close when they are using high or moving equipment to avoid accidents from happening.”