Will Swing Sets Soon Be Just A Memory Of Playgrounds Past?

My seven-year-old daughter loves swings, almost obsessively, but some kids will go through childhood never knowing the joy of playing on a swing set. An iconic piece of equipment that kids have enjoyed for centuries, the swing set may fall victim to this lawsuit ridden age of political correctness and overprotective parents.

The Richland School District in Washington has decided to remove swing sets from playgrounds on district campuses.  According to a report, insurance companies have been pressuring the district to take down the sets for liability reasons.  There were around 200,000 emergency room visits last year that involved a playground injury, and most involved a swing set.

Some parents are in favor of the decision. Others disagree saying that swing sets are a part of growing up and being a kid. "They were our great joy, and we all played on them," said Richland resident Gail Thorricellas. While I agree with Gail, swings can be dangerous, and deadly.

I was horrified when I was researching this article and learned about a death caused by a swing set that happened just last week.  A 7-year-old from Vancouver fell off a swing set during recess last week.  She was walking home from school with her dad when she said she was dizzy.  Later at home, her brother went to check on her and found her sick in her room. She was taken to a hospital where she was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, then taken to Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland where she passed away.

Obviously, a swing set related death is extremely rare, but it is possible.  So what do you think?  Earlier this year, we discussed things that should have killed us when we were growing up. Will swing sets end up on that list?  Will swinging at recess become nothing more than an eye-rolling story we share with our kids and grandkids?  You know... "When I was your age, we had these things called swings..."!