FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 7th,
2005 - Welch Products announces
SPECTRA - (Safe Play for Early Childhood: Training, Resources & Assessment)
a partnership between the National Safe Surfacing Initiative (NSSI),
the sales and marketing arm of Welch Products, and the National
Program for Playground Safety (NPPS) to provide safe outdoor
environments for young children at pre-schools and daycare centers.
"Children playing and
learning in the outdoors require a safe, secure education environment in the
early childhood setting. This type of
environment can be accomplished through pre-planning and the provision of a safe
foundation," said Dr. Donna Thompson NPPS Director. "The SPECTRA Program will provide the training, resources and
assessment services along with the infrastructure necessary for Childcare
Centers to provide safe outdoor play areas."
"Young children in
childcare centers are smaller and less coordinated than older children. They have a higher likelihood of tripping,
falling and being injured on loose fill surfacing such as wood chips, sand, or
pea gravel that is not maintained," said Tim Mahoney, NSSI President. "In addition, loose fill surfacing such as
pea gravel and rubber chips can end up in small children's mouths."
As part of the SPECTRA
Program, NPPS staff members will work with Childcare Centers in planning play
areas and provide the NPPS S.A.F.E. Package to help them develop policies and
procedures for the outdoor play and learning areas. After the initial planning stage, NSSI will provide DuroMat Extended Life™ Playground Safety
Surfacing in appropriate areas and assist with low interest financing.
Initial results from
research conducted by NPPS the last three years indicates that when DuroMat
Extended Life™ Playground Safety Surfacing is placed in and around playground
equipment, serious injuries are reduced by 55%.
