Part A-2-Playground Injuries PDF

Reading Part A
Playground Injuries & Playground Surface Material
Part A Summary Gap Fill Time Limit: 15 minutes

Instructions
• Complete the following summary using the information in the texts for this
task.
• Skim and scan the texts to find the information required.
• Gaps may require 1, 2 or 3 words.
• Write your answers in the appropriate space in the column on the right hand
side.
• Make sure your spelling is correct.
Summary Answers
1.
The most common playground-related injuries are
2.
fractures, (1)___ and dislocations, with most injuries
occurring in schools and (2)____. In public
3.
playgrounds the equipment with highest number of
(3)___was climbers, while in home playgrounds it 4.
was (4)___.
The severity of injury is directly related to the 5.
surface material in the playground. While grass is
6.
often believed to have a cushioning effect, it is
(5)___ because the dirt below is (6)___. As a result,
7.
wood fibre, (7)___ and rubber matting are (8)___by
safety experts. 8.
A recent study published in the Public Library of
Open Science investigated the risk of (9)___among 9.
children. According to the study, the two main
10.
determining risk factors are (10)___ and (11)___ .
However, the purpose of the study was to compare
11.
two common playground (12)___, granitic sand and
engineered wood fibre in regard to injury prevention. 12.
Results indicate that the risk of fracture was much
(13)____ in wood fibre surfaced playgrounds than 13.
with (14)___.
14.
Website: http://oetonline.com.au
This resource was developed by OET Online 1
Email: oetonline@gmail.com
Reading Part A
Part A Answer Sheet continued

Summary Answers
15.
However, injuries do occur on all surfaces. For 16.

example, orthopaedic injuries such as broken
(15)___and (16)___are often the result of 17.
(17)___falls.
18.
While complete safety can never be guaranteed, the 19.

number and severity of injuries can be (18)___ by
adhering to a safety checklist. A (19)___of 30 cm is 20.
advised when using wood chips, sand or (20)___.
21.
The surface area covered must (21)___ a minimum
of 2m in all directions and play structures which are
22.
over 1m in (22)___ must be at least (23)____apart.
Equipment and surfaces should be checked 23.
(24)___in order to maintain good condition.
24.
Other factors worth considering are that more
25.
injuries occur in the (25)___age group, (26)___have
slightly higher chance of injury than (27)___ and
26.
playgrounds in (28)___ were considered more
(29)___ than playgrounds in high income areas due 27.
to damaged fall surfaces, more rubbish and
(30)___play equipment. 28.
29.
30.
TOTAL SCORE
Reading Part A
Part A
Time Limit: 15 minutes
Instructions
• Complete the summary on the answer page using the information in the four
texts below.
• Skim and scan the texts to find the information required.
• Write your answers in the appropriate space in the column on the right hand
side.
• Make sure your spelling is correct.

Text 1
Playground Injuries: Fact Sheet
Overview
Each year in the United States, emergency departments treat more than 200,000
children ages 14 and younger for playground-related injuries .
Occurrence and Consequences

• About 45% of playground-related injuries are severe–fractures, concussions
and dislocations
• About 75% of injuries related to playground equipment occur on public
playgrounds. Most occur at schools and daycare centres.
Cost
• In 1995, playground-related injuries among children ages 14 and younger cost
an estimated $1.2 billion.
Groups at Risk
• While all children who use playgrounds are at risk for injury, girls sustain
injuries (55%) slightly more often than boys (45%) .
• Children ages 5 to 9 have higher rates of playground injuries than any other
age group. Most of these injuries occur at school .
Risk Factors
• On public playgrounds, more injuries occur on climbers than on any other
equipment.
• On home playgrounds, swings are responsible for most injuries.
• Playgrounds in low-income areas were considered less safe than playgrounds
in high-income areas. For example, playgrounds in low-income areas had
significantly more rubbish, rusty play equipment, and damaged fall surfaces.
Reading Part A
Text 2
Safety Surfacing
At its most basic, safety surfacing is a cushion that can absorb some of the impact of
falls. While grass may be considered soft and comfortable, the dirt just beneath grass
is actually quite hard and potentially dangerous. In its place, safety experts
recommend surfaces with "give"—most commonly, engineered wood fibre, sand and
rubber matting. At proper depths, safety materials lessen the chances of life-
threatening (mainly head) injuries at your playground.
It's important to note that no surface can guarantee safety, especially against
orthopaedic injuries like broken wrists and ankles. In many cases, these injuries result
more from awkward falls than the type of surface material.
There is no single best surface for your playground. Factors like weather, the
availability of maintenance staff, and even budgets play a role in that decision.
Text 3
Injury Reduction through Public Playground Safety Checklist:
• Make sure surfaces around playground equipment such as wood chips, sand, or
gravel, are at least 30 cm deep.
• Check that protective surfacing extends at least 2m in all directions from play
equipment. For swings, be sure surfacing extends, in back and front, twice the
height of the suspending bar.
• Make sure play structures more than 1m high are spaced at least 3m apart.
• Make sure spaces that could trap children, such as openings in guardrails or
between ladder rungs, measure less than 12cm or more than 20cm
• Check for sharp points or edges in equipment.
• Look out for tripping hazards, like exposed concrete footings, tree stumps, and
rocks.
• Check playgrounds regularly to see that equipment and surfacing are in good
condition.
• Carefully supervise children on playgrounds to make sure they're safe.
Reading Part A
Text 4
Source: Public Library of Open Science
Authors: Andrew W. Howard, Colin Macarthur, Linda Rothman, Andrew Willan, Alison K.
Macpherson
Background: The risk of playground injuries, especially fractures, is prevalent in
children, and can result in emergency room treatment and hospital admissions. Fall
height and surface material are major determinants of playground fall injury risk.
However there is limited research comparing different playground surfaces.
Methods and Findings: The risk of arm fracture from playground falls onto granitic
sand versus onto engineered wood fibre surfaces was compared, with an outcome
measure of estimated arm fracture rate per 100,000 student-months. Schools were
randomly assigned by computer generated lists to receive either a granitic sand or an
engineered wood fibre playground surface (Fibar), and were not blinded. Injury data,
including details of circumstance and diagnosis, were collected at each school by a
prospective surveillance system with confirmation of injury details through a
validated telephone interview with parents and also through collection of medical
reports regarding treated injuries. Among all schools, the arm fracture rate was 4.5 per
100,000 student-months for falls into sand compared with 12.9 for falls onto Fibar
surfaces.
Conclusions: Playground fractures are a serious health problem created by an
environment built specifically for children. Prior investigations have consistently
shown height and surfacing to be important risk factors, but no study has
prospectively investigated the effects of an intervention using injury outcomes. This
investigation shows that the risk of a fracture was 4.9 times higher over an engineered
wood fibre playground surface compared with sand. Updating playground safety
standards to reflect this information will reduce the most common and severe injuries
seen on modern playgrounds, without limiting children’s access to healthy outdoor
play.
Reading Part A
Answer Sheet
1. concussions
2. daycare centres
3. injuries
4. swings
5. potentially dangerous
6. quite hard
7. sand
8. recommended (use passive form)
9. playground injuries
10. fall height
11. surface material
12. surfaces
13. higher
14. sand
15. wrists
16. ankles
17. awkward
18. reduce (change noun to verb)
19. depth (change adjective to noun)
20. gravel
21. extend(change verb to standard form following the modal verb must)
22. height (change adjective to noun)
23. 3 m
24. regularly
25. 5 to 9
26. girls
27. boys
28. low-income areas
29. dangerous (use opposite of safe)
30. rusty
Reading Part A
Highlighted Answers
Text 1
Playground Injuries: Fact Sheet
Overview
Each year in the United States, emergency departments treat more than 200,000 children
ages 14 and younger for playground-‐related injuries .

Occurrence and Consequences
• About 45% of playground-‐related injuries are severe–fractures, (1)concussions and
dislocations
• About 75% of injuries related to playground equipment occur on public playgrounds.
Most occur at schools and (2)daycare centres.

Cost
• In 1995, playground-‐related injuries among children ages 14 and younger cost an
estimated $1.2 billion.

Groups at Risk
• While all children who use playgrounds are at risk for injury, (26)girls sustain injuries
(55%) slightly more often than (27)boys (45%) .
• Children ages (25) 5 to 9 have higher rates of playground injuries than any other age
group. Most of these injuries occur at school .

Risk Factors
• On public playgrounds, more (3)injuries occur on climbers than on any other
equipment.
• On home playgrounds, (4)swings are responsible for most injuries.
• Playgrounds in (28)low-‐income areas were considered less (29) (dangerous) safe
than playgrounds in high-‐income areas. For example, playgrounds in low-‐income
areas had significantly more rubbish, (30)rusty play equipment, and damaged fall
surfaces.

Text 2
Safety Surfacing
At its most basic, safety surfacing is a cushion that can absorb some of the impact of falls.
While grass may be considered soft and comfortable, the dirt just beneath grass is actually
(6)quite hard and (5)potentially dangerous. In its place, safety experts (8)recommend(ed)
surfaces with "give"—most commonly, engineered wood fibre, (7)sand and rubber matting.
At proper depths, safety materials lessen the chances of life-‐threatening (mainly head)
injuries at your playground.
It's important to note that no surface can guarantee safety, especially against orthopaedic
injuries like broken (15) wrists and (16) ankles. In many cases, these injuries result more
from (17)awkward falls than the type of surface material.
There is no single best surface for your playground. Factors like weather, the availability of
maintenance staff, and even budgets play a role in that decision.

This resource was developed by OET Online
7
Reading Part A

Text 3
Injury (18)Reduc(e)tion through Public Playground Safety Checklist:
• Make sure surfaces around playground equipment such as wood chips, sand, or
(20)gravel, are at least 30 cm (19) (depth)deep.
• Check that protective surfacing (21)(extend)s at least 2m in all directions from play
equipment. For swings, be sure surfacing extends, in back and front, twice the height of
the suspending bar.
• Make sure play structures more than 1m (22) (height)high are spaced at least
(23)3m apart.
• Make sure spaces that could trap children, such as openings in guardrails or
between ladder rungs, measure less than 12cm or more than 20cm
• Check for sharp points or edges in equipment.
• Look out for tripping hazards, like exposed concrete footings, tree stumps, and
rocks.
• Check playgrounds (24)regularly to see that equipment and surfacing are in good
condition.
• Carefully supervise children on playgrounds to make sure they're safe.
Text 4
Source: Public Library of Open Science
Authors: Andrew W. Howard, Colin Macarthur, Linda Rothman, Andrew Willan, Alison K. Macpherson
Background: The risk of (9)playground injuries, especially fractures, is prevalent in children,
and can result in emergency room treatment and hospital admissions. (10)Fall height and
(11) surface material are major determinants of playground fall injury risk. However there is
limited research comparing different playground surfaces.
Methods and Findings: The risk of arm fracture from playground falls onto granitic sand
versus onto engineered wood fibre (12)surfaces was compared, with an outcome measure
of estimated arm fracture rate per 100,000 student-‐months. Schools were randomly
assigned by computer generated lists to receive either a granitic sand or an engineered
wood fibre playground surface (Fibar), and were not blinded. Injury data, including details of
circumstance and diagnosis, were collected at each school by a prospective surveillance
system with confirmation of injury details through a validated telephone interview with
parents and also through collection of medical reports regarding treated injuries. Among all
schools, the arm fracture rate was 4.5 per 100,000 student-‐months for falls into sand
compared with 12.9 for falls onto Fibar surfaces.
Conclusions: Playground fractures are a serious health problem created by an environment
built specifically for children. Prior investigations have consistently shown height and
surfacing to be important risk factors, but no study has prospectively investigated the effects
of an intervention using injury outcomes. This investigation shows that the risk of a fracture
was 4.9 times (13)higher over an engineered wood fibre playground surface compared
with(14)sand. Updating playground safety standards to reflect this information will reduce
the most common and severe injuries seen on modern playgrounds, without limiting
children’s access to healthy outdoor play.


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Reading Part A

Playground Injuries & Playground Surface Material

Part A Summary Gap Fill Time Limit: 15 minutes

Part A Answer Sheet continued

However, injuries do occur on all surfaces. For 16.

While complete safety can never be guaranteed, the 19.

Playground Injuries & Playground Surface Material

Occurrence and Consequences

Playground Injuries & Playground Surface Material

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