Unsafe ‘Animal’ Swings: The Consumer Product Safety...

Unsafe ‘Animal’ Swings: The Consumer Product Safety Commission and seven playground equipment makers are working together to get potentially dangerous swings removed from playing fields nationwide. The swings, made of heavy metal or molded plastic, were installed between 1951 and 1991. They were involved in the 1985 death of a 2-year-old in California and last year’s death of a 6-year-old in Pennsylvania. Both children were hit in the head as they walked near the swings, which are painted to resemble horses, zebras, pelicans and other animal figures, the commission said. About 10,000 swings were installed at parks, schools and day-care centers nationwide. An undetermined number are still in use.