Playground injuries on the rise - how to keep your kids active but safe

It's that time of the year - kids outside playing - which is what we want them to do.

But how do you keep them safe from backyard or playground injuries.

We know the very thing that makes the playground fun is what makes it risky - the climbing, swinging and dangling. They can all add up to bumps and bruises.

"One of the most common thing that I see is when kids are on the monkey bars, when they fall they injure their arms," said Dr. Kelly Levasseur Beaumont Children's Hospital. "Broken bone, broken forearm, broken elbow. It is the most common thing we see. We also see children hit their head."

A new study says the playground can be a dangerous play, and that injuries on the rise. We talked to the experts to find out when a child needs to go to the emergency room.

A review of the data by the CDC finds that the number of traumatic brain injuries suffered on the playground is on the rise. Despite the ominous label, a traumatic brain injury is usually not life-threatening, but diagnosing it is important. That's where ER doctors come in with their detective hats.

"Certainly, if we're concerned about a head injury or significant brain injury, we have to do CAT Scan but that's something that family and doc needs to decide," Levasseur said.

Beaumont Children's Hospital ER doctor Kelly Levasseur says a CT Scan isn't always the answer, because that dose of radiation can raise the risk of cancer. Instead, she studies all the symptoms.

"How did they hit their head, where? How are they acting? Are they acting normal?," says Levasseur.

In fact, for all of us, when deciding what to do with an injured child, the answer comes with asking a lot of question.

"If they are riding their bike and you see the fall,  and they are wearing a helmet, and are answering questions and not vomiting," said Sarah Rauner, pediatric nurse, Beaumont Hospital. "That's when you can decide do I want to take them to the emergency room, pediatric office or urgent care."

There's a fine line between letting kids have care-free fun and being way too overprotective. For most parents finding that sweet spot is a lifelong battle.