According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, it is estimated that each year over 205,850 injuries occur on playgrounds and approximately fifteen children will die from playground related injuries.
Sponsored by the National Recreation and Park Association, the Virginia Recreation and Park Society hosts annually the National Playground Safety course known as the National Playground Safety Institute (NPSI), that is the most comprehensive training program on playground hazard identification and risk management methods offered anywhere.
Advanced reading and fifteen hours of training from nationally known playground safety experts will prepare participants to sit for the Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) examination offered at the culmination of the certification course. It is also approved for 1.2 ceu's.
Topics for the course include: Identifying hazards on playgrounds; Developing risk management tools; Importance of comprehensive playground safety program from a legal perspective; Test methods for entrapments, protrusions, and entanglement; National standards and guidelines.
The NPSI is a must for municipalities, schools, child care facilities, health departments, playground manufacturers and installers, insurance firms, food chain franchises, park and recreation agencies, maintenance facilities and others responsible for playgrounds.