Outdoor Play Inspector Certification Added at Early Learning Coalition

Nov. 14, 2011 - PRLog -- The Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida (ELC) is proud to announce Kimberlea Gerbasio, a Healthy and Safety Monitor, has received her certification as an Early Childhood Play Inspector.

Designed to help improve the quality and safety of outdoor play environments for children, the National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS) (http://www.uni.edu/playground/) coordinates the certification. The University of Northern Iowa, Division of Continuing Education and Special Programs sponsors it.

According to NPPS, “Between 2001 and 2008, an average of 218,851 preschool and elementary children received emergency department care for injuries that occurred on playground equipment.” There were 40 deaths associated with playground equipment during the same time frame.

Adding this certification to the credentials of ELC was vital and will greatly enhance the capabilities of their health and safety monitoring. Of the reported incidents with known ages, also according to NPPS, injured children 0 to 4 years old accounted for 54% of the data.

“Health and safety inspections are just one of the many services the Coalition coordinates for local child care facilities,” commented Dr. Kathleen Reynolds, CEO of ELC. “It’s important that we continue our education in how to best assess the child care environments, and that includes play areas. This is an important certification for our organization.”

Children are at risk for injury in any environment, especially outside. It’s important that playground areas are assessed at childcare facilities as well as in home environments.

Based on these statistics and other research, the NPPS advocates that adults:

- Actively supervise children in the play environment
- Choose appropriate developmental equipment for the play environment
- Provide safe surfacing in public use areas and at home for playground equipment
- Ensure that all equipment and surfacing located in the play areas are maintained on a regular basis.

The Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida exists to enhance the quality of children's lives by providing low-income families, early childhood educators, care-givers and community partners in Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee Counties, with opportunities to positively impact the future. For details on their many services or to donate, please visit http://www.elcofswfl.org or call (239) 267-4105.

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ELC exists to enhance the quality of children's lives by providing low-income families, early childhood educators, caregivers and community partners in Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee Counties, with opportunities to positively impact the future.