National Action Plan for the Prevention of Playground Injuries

Background

Program Goals:

To provide a model that allows the evaluation and subsequent correction of all the elements that contribute to playground safety: Supervision; Age-appropriate designs; Fall surfacing; Equipment maintenance

Intent:

Unintentional

Risk Factors Addressed:

Playground surfacing; equipment height, maintenance, age-appropriateness; child supervision

Place of occurrence:

Home playgrounds, public and schoolyard playgrounds

Age/Age Range:

Children

Other Population Characteristics:

Child’s size, strength, and decision-making abilities are factors that need to be taken into consideration when designing playgrounds

Resources

Year Developed:

1995

Collaborative Organization(s):

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Funding Resource(s):

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Senators Tom Harkin, Chuck Grassley, & Congressman Jim Nussle

Implementation

Context/Setting

Non-profit organization developed a model that deals with playground safety issues. Serves as a national resource for the latest educational and research information on playground safety

Strategies Used:

Education, Economic, Enactment

Activities Used:

The 4 goals (SAFE) are aimed at three levels of government: local level targets community agencies and organizations; state level targets state governmental departments in education, natural resources, parks, health and human services; national level targets professional alliances such as National Association for Education of Young Children (NAEYC), National Safety Council (NSC), National Safe Kids Campaign (NSKC).
Data collected from comprehensive surveys of child care, school and park playgrounds.

Program Evaluation:

Program practices are evaluated on pre- and post-levels. Areas of improvement are suggested and success is surveyed

Source of Best Practice:

Volpe, R., & Lewko, J. (2007). A Sourcebook of Evidence-Based Practices in the Prevention of Severe Injuries.

Original Source:

Brown, J. (1997). A comparison of injuries on various types of playground equipment. The Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program. Public Health Agency of Canada.

Supplementary Material:

http://uni.edu/playground
National Action Plan for the Prevention of Playground Injuries  

Local Example(s):

N/A

Contact Information: 

Dr. Donna Thompson
Executive Director
The National Program for Playground Safety
School of Health, Physical Education & Leisure Services
University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA
Email: donna.thompson@uni.edu
Tel: 1-800 544-PLAY / 319-273-7529

Outcomes

Long-term outcomes/Effectiveness:

National Plan for Playground Safety has increased national awareness and encouraged safe play

Short-term outcomes:

Increases in playground safety have been observed since initiative inception

Other Benefits:

NPPS provides services that include interlibrary loan service from UNI Rod Library; national information hotline about playground injury prevention; resource materials for use by the public; in-depth educational opportunities through workshops; network of professionals to contact who can provide specific information

Other

Date of Review:

2005

Classification:

Best Practice