Kotch J B, Hussey J M, Carter A
Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 27599, USA.
Inj Prev. 2003 Sep;9(3):220-5. doi: 10.1136/ip.9.3.220.
The goal of this study was to track any changes in injuries and injury hazards during the first 3.5 years of implementation of the North Carolina Child Care Commission's 1996 playground safety regulations.
All reports (n=5402) of medically attended injuries in regulated child care settings in North Carolina during the period 1 January 1997 through 30 June 2000 were reviewed and analyzed. A total of 294 playground safety inspections were conducted in November and December 1998 in randomly selected North Carolina child care centers, and the playground safety inspections were repeated in 76 child care centers in August 2000. Finally, in 1999 a 1992 child care center director self assessment of safety features in classrooms was sent to the directors of 291 of the 294 centers.
The annual rate of reported, medically attended injuries occurring in regulated child care facilities in North Carolina declined by 22% from 1997 to 1999. The playground safety inspections in the year 2000 revealed that, for nine of 10 playground concerns and 12 of 18 playground safety hazards, average ratings were equal to or better than those of 1998. Finally, the director surveys revealed no dramatic changes in classroom safety hazards since 1992.
This study represents the first time that the authors are aware of that a significant decline in state-wide child care injury rates has been associated with improved regulation of playground safety in the US.
本研究的目的是追踪北卡罗来纳州儿童保育委员会1996年操场安全规定实施的前3.5年期间伤害及伤害风险的任何变化。
对1997年1月1日至2000年6月30日期间北卡罗来纳州受监管儿童保育机构中所有有医疗救治记录的伤害报告（n = 5402份）进行了审查和分析。1998年11月和12月对北卡罗来纳州随机选取的儿童保育中心进行了总共294次操场安全检查，并于2000年8月在76个儿童保育中心重复进行了操场安全检查。最后，在1999年向294个中心中的291个中心的主任发送了一份1992年儿童保育中心教室安全特征自我评估表。
北卡罗来纳州受监管儿童保育机构中报告的有医疗救治记录的伤害年发生率从1997年到1999年下降了22%。2000年的操场安全检查显示，对于10个操场问题中的9个以及18个操场安全隐患中的12个，平均评级等于或优于1998年。最后，主任调查显示自1992年以来教室安全隐患没有显著变化。
作者所知，本研究是首次表明美国全州范围内儿童保育伤害率的显著下降与操场安全监管的改善相关。
