If you think that a playground is always a harmless place for a child to play, consider the following statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Safety Council (NSC):

• Every year in the U.S., more than 200,000 children aged 14 and younger are treated for playground injuries in an Emergency Room (ER).
• Severe fractures, internal injuries, concussions, dislocations, and amputations comprise about 45% of all playground injuries.
• Nearly 80% of all playground injuries are caused by falls.
• Strangulation is one of the top causes of playground death. In a study conducted over ten years, 56% of all playground deaths in children 14 and under were caused by strangulation.
• Children 5 to 9 have the highest rate of ER visits for playground injuries of any age group.
• Playgrounds in low-income areas have the highest rates of injury and fatality and are more likely to have issues like rusted metal, broken equipment, and dangerous fall surfaces.

As the novel coronavirus spreads across Illinois, the United States, and the rest of the world, it’s imperative we do what we can to protect those that are most at risk for severe complications from the virus. Elderly people and those with conditions that compromise their immune systems currently fall into the most at-risk category. Because of that, it’s important for Illinois nursing homes to take action to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

When nursing homes fail to properly contain a virus, they can be cited for problems with infection control. Across the country, 9,700 of the 15,000 nursing homes were cited by the federal government at least once during the last two inspection cycles. This means that approximately 63 percent of nursing homes in the United States were cited at least once between February 2016 to February 2020 for failing to handle infections properly.

On March 31, Governor J.B. Pritzker announced that Illinois’s stay-at-home order is extended until at least the end of April in an attempt to stop the spread of COVID-19. For many residents, this means hunkering down at home and doing their part to flatten the curve. For others, it means being on the frontlines and working in hospitals and other medical facilities to care for those who are ill.

No matter your circumstance during this trying time, let’s take a look at some tips to protect you and your loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s important to note that information related to the virus changes daily. As such, everything discussed below is accurate as of April 2, 2020. Refer to local and federal health organizations for the most up-to-date information.