Playground, fireworks injuries rise sharply among kids

BALTIMORE, Md. (WPVI) -- Two new reports out of the Pediatric Academic Societies meeting in Baltimore say some types of injuries are on the rise in kids.

And many of those injuries are avoidable.

No one is saying we need to start bubble-wrapping kids to keep them from getting hurt.

Because those everyday bumps and bruises teach kids how to watch out for their own safety.

However, doctors are concerned about a rise in more serious injuries.

One is among playground concussions, which have more than doubled in the past 10 years.

The biggest culprit is the monkey bars and swings.

CDC researchers say the rise may be partially due to more awareness about head injury among parents.

Researchers are also worried about a sharp rise in kids suffering fireworks injuries.

They blame the increase on more lenient fireworks laws.

Changes in those laws have made it easier for younger children to purchase fireworks.

Looking at data from 2006-2012, researchers found the overall of children injured increased modestly.

However, the number requiring hospital admission went from 28.9% in 2006 to 50% in 2012.

The length of their hospital stays doubled during that period, while the average age of injured children went down.