The quest for playground safety. (Playgrounds).

In this issue you will find a series of articles that focus on Playground Safety, written by some of the leading experts in the field. They cover some of the major factors that can be linked to playground injuries -- how children play; how design affects safety; designs to integrate children with disabilities into play. There are articles that address signage, risk management and maintenance. In short, this is another gathering of vital information to help us protect our children and provide safe environments.

Children are our future, and will direct the future of our country. It is our responsibility -- as parents, adults and professionals -- to guide them and protect them as they grow and learn. As a direct survivor of the September 11th disaster I saw, firsthand, the terrible after-effects on the surviving children; and today I see the care and attention that these children require to regain their normal youthful out look and growth.

Critical to this recovery has been the availability of recreation and places to play. If you watch children with trauma enter the playground you will see a burst of energy, broad smiles, and the attempts to socialize after an experience that caused severe fright and feelings of isolation. They run, they jump, they climb and slide. They use the playgrounds as a tool to return to normalcy. Who would have thought that playgrounds could make such a difference in life? Well, the lesson is learned.

September 11th caused us, for probably the first time, to focus on the true values of play and playgrounds; and to understand how they have become established as a pillar of growth. If the children are our future and will direct our future, we must protect them until their future arrives. Making our playgrounds safer is not a "sissy" thing to do, but a true investment in tomorrow for our entire population.