Editor's note: Each summer, columns on important seasonal topics are reprinted. This is part of the columns in the "Summertime Series" of Your Child's Health.

Children need to play and playgrounds are usually thought to provide a varied and safe haven for this important activity. But did you know that about 150,000 children are brought to emergency departments each year for playground-related injuries? Although playground injuries occur in many settings, more injuries occur at home playgrounds that at other places. The most common injuries seen in emergency rooms are fractures, followed by contusions, open wounds, sprains and internal injuries. Boys younger than seven have the highest risk of injuries, and most of these are from falls. About three-fourths of all falls are from swings, then climbing equipment, slides and see-saws. Although the majority of the injuries are not life-threatening, 15 to 20 children die each year in the United States from playground falls. (Since some tree houses and monkey bars are nine feet high or taller, it is easy to see how falls from this equipment may be fatal.)

The first step in minimizing playground injuries is to make sure that the equipment is installed correctly and maintained regularly. Care should be given to where the equipment is located and the surface beneath. For example, swings should not be installed near walls, fences or trees since these fixed hazards increase the likelihood of an injury. Similarly, an energy-absorbent material such as sand and wood chips should be underneath swings, slides, monkey bars, etc. A child has a much greater chance of getting injuried when falling on concrete than when landing on sand.

Other important tips to reduce playground injuries include:

* Inspect the equipment for broken parts and repair them. Protruding bolts, nails, screws and hooks can cause serious harm.

* Inspect the equipment for sharp edges or corners and splinters.

* Inspect the grounds for hazards such as broken glass, which can also cause serious injuries to a child who falls on it.

Children like to imitate older playmates. Unfortunately, toys of older children may be too developmentally advanced for a younger child. Thus, parents should know the child's skill level and restrict his playing on toys that may foster injuries. Until a youngster has the necessary coordination, parental supervision is always a good idea any time a young child uses playground equipment.

As with any activity, parents should review the "rules of the road" with children. These include curtailing dare-devil activities and common sense things which may not be so obvious to young children. Most pieces of playground equipment have their own set of rules which should be taught to the child (and frequently reviewed). Using swings as an example, children should be taught to adhere to the following rules: do not walk in the path of a swing, no standing on swings, holding on with both hands, don't swing too high, don't push anyone who isn't expecting to be pushed and don't get off before the swing stops. Slides, monkey-bars, see-saws and sandboxes have their own corresponding safety rules, most of which should be apparent to most parents.

I've devoted several of these columns to topics on safety because accidents, by a wide margin, are the leading cause of harm to children. Once again, my benediction may be summarized as play, play well, but play safely.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. Robert A. Dershewitz, M.D., Sc.M., FAAP, is a pediatrician at Healthy Kids Care Center in St. John and is affiliated with The Community Hospital in Munster.