RESUMO
Reports of children's play-related injuries have remained stagnant according to epidemiology studies of the past 3 decades. This article provides a unique look into the context of playground injuries within an entire school district, demonstrating the prevalence of these injuries. This study reports that playgrounds are the leading location of school injury, comprising one-third of all elementary school injuries. This study found that while head/neck injuries were the most commonly injured body region within the playground environment, the proportion of head/neck injuries decreased with age, whereas the proportion of extremity injuries increased with age. At least 1 upper extremity injury required outside medical attention for every 4 that were treated on-site, making upper extremity injuries roughly twice as likely to require outside medical attention as injuries to other body regions. The data in this study are useful for interpreting injury patterns in the context and evaluation of existing safety standards for playgrounds.
Assuntos
Traumatismos do Braço , Lesões do Pescoço , Ferimentos e Lesões , Criança , Humanos , Jogos e Brinquedos , Traumatismos do Braço/epidemiologia , Parques Recreativos , Instituições AcadêmicasRESUMO
Playgrounds are a major source of unintentional injuries in the school environment. In fact, 80% of all injuries on public playground equipment happen at school. Thus, the need for developing a playground injury prevention plan is critical to provide safe educational outdoor environments for children. The S.A.F.E.trade mark framework for injury prevention is the first step in preventing playground injuries. This article highlights suggestions that school nurses can implement in creating an effective playground injury prevention program at their schools.
Assuntos
Prevenção de Acidentes/métodos , Jogos e Brinquedos , Desenvolvimento de Programas/métodos , Serviços de Enfermagem Escolar/métodos , Ferimentos e Lesões/prevenção & controle , Algoritmos , Criança , Árvores de Decisões , Documentação , Tratamento de Emergência/métodos , Tratamento de Emergência/enfermagem , Segurança de Equipamentos , Humanos , Modelos de Enfermagem , Modelos Organizacionais , Avaliação das Necessidades , Fatores de Risco , Ferimentos e Lesões/epidemiologia , Ferimentos e Lesões/etiologiaRESUMO
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.