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An Investigation of School Playground Safety Practices as Reported by School Nurses

Susan D. Hudson, PhD, is the education director at the National Program for Playground Safety, University of Northern Iowa, School of Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Services, Cedar Falls, Iowa

Heather M. Olsen, EdD

Heather M. Olsen, EdD, is the operations director at the National Program for Playground Safety, University of Northern Iowa, School of Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Services, Cedar Falls, Iowa

Donna Thompson, PhD

Donna Thompson, PhD, is the executive director at the National Program for Playground Safety, University of Northern Iowa, School of Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Services, Cedar Falls, Iowa

The purpose of this study was to investigate school playground safety practices. The study used a purposeful sample of school nurses who attended a playground safety workshop at the 2006 National Association of School Nurses annual conference. Seventy-five questionnaires were distributed, and 64 useable questionnaires were returned. The responses indicated that little attention is being given to providing safe playground environments in schools as measured by best practices of supervision, age-appropriate design, fall surfacing, and equipment maintenance. Participants pointed to the need for better supervision and supervision training, careful selection of age-appropriate equipment, maintaining adequate fall surfaces under the equipment, and ensuring that equipment is properly maintained and repaired. The study also revealed that school nurses believe they could play a role in playground injury prevention through the collection and analysis of injury data, communication to administrators about the need for comprehensive planning of the play environment, and becoming active members of playground safety committees.

Key Words: age-appropriate design • fall surfacing • playground equipment maintenance • playground safety • S.A.F.E. Model^TM • supervision

The Journal of School Nursing, Vol. 24, No. 3, 138-144 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1059840511223344


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