Having been hit in the head by a swing, child injury lawyer Doug Landau recognizes the hazards posed by inattentiveness and poor playground design. The Loudoun, Leesburg and Fairfax injury lawyer has seen children get caught up in adjacent swings and strike metal support poles. To prevent injuries from impact with moving swings, swings should not be too close together or too close to support structures. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) offers consumers these playground safety tips from its Handbook for Public Playground Safety:

1. No more than two swing seats suspended in the same section of the support structure. Use the following clearances for to-fro swings:

* Horizontal distance between adjacent swing seats-at least 24 inches.
* Horizontal distance between swing seat and adjacent structural component-at least 30 inches.

2. No more than one tire swing suspended in the same section or bay of the support structure. Distance between the outer-most edge of a tire swing and the adjacent upright of the support structure should be at least 30 inches when the tire is swung to a position closest to the support structure.

3. No swings attached to multi-activity equipment.

4. No heavy animal swings with rigid metal framework.