Two incidents were reported at playgrounds in Rauma Central Park, Finland, over the weekend, including an injury involving a climbing carousel and a separate near miss on a climbing structure. The City of Rauma said it was taking immediate measures to improve safety.
According to feedback submitted to the city, a teenager was injured after a climbing carousel was rotated at extremely high speed using a scooter tyre and a young person fell from the equipment. Emergency services were reportedly called. The city linked the activity to a social media challenge involving riders attempting to remain on a carousel while it is spun at extreme speed. The carousels will remain in normal use while safety messaging is increased through schools, social media and Wilma.
In the second incident, a child reportedly came close to falling several metres from a climbing structure before a parent intervened. The city discussed the equipment with its manufacturer and temporarily took the multi-purpose play structure out of service. Access to its highest sections and use of its slide were also to be restricted while a longer-term solution was developed with the manufacturer. The city said reported incidents must be notified to the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency.
