If you are looking for information on playground safety, the National Program for Playground Safety has just what you are looking for. Established in 1995, the NPPS

• Promotes the “National Action Plan for the Prevention of Playground Injuries;”
• Serves as a recognized national clearinghouse for playground safety information;
• Shares cutting-edge information as a global resource through its web page.
• Conducts ongoing research in the area of injury prevention;
• Houses the largest compilation of playground-related publications and documents in the nation;
• Sponsors an annual National Playground Safety Week;
• Produces educational videos addressing the roles of various audiences in injury prevention;
• Prevents playground-related injuries by serving as a technical resource for parent groups, schools, communities, childcare centers, government officials, children’s organizations and other educators.

NPPS has available a variety of information including a lesson plan for children on keeping playgrounds safe, a guide for planning a play area, playground inspection guide, a check list for parents and tips for limiting sun safety during outdoor play, supervision guidelines, age appropriate design guidelines, fall surfacing guidelines, and equipment maintenance guidelines.

Childcare programs can utilize many of the services of the NPPS including:

• An interlibrary loan service of publications and documents from the University of Northern Iowa’s Rod Library;
• A national information hotline (800-554-PLAY) about playground injury prevention;
• Pamphlets, brochures and other resource materials for use by service clubs, organizations and agencies;
• In-depth educational opportunities through the National Playground Safety School and workshops;
• A network of professionals to contact to provide specific information to local communities around the country.

School of HPELS, WRC 205, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0618;
800-554-PLAY; www.playgroundsafety.org