Any outdoor educator knows about rules. Outdoor educators spend a considerable amount of time at conferences talking about them: risk management plans, accepted safety practices, and first aid protocols. You name it, they've got a rule. When a Buddhist friend asked if rules really made programs safer, the author's first response was yes. His…

To fulfill his responsibility, the professional lifeguard must be trained in the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains with continuing in-service programs aimed at the prevention of aquatic injuries. (JMF)

Schools should be committed to health and safety standards in vocational programs. The facilities and equipment should provide a safe environment, responsibility for preventing injuries should rest with administrators and instructors, and adequate safety education should be provided to all vocational students. (SK)

Argues for a child-centered approach to thinking about child cycling accidents. Helmets instill a false sense of safety in children and adults, while a profound change in the habits of adults is the only strategy that can protect children from accidents. Suggests steps for local analysis of the problem of cycling accidents. (MOK)

The reasoning of caregivers is discussed in the context of preventing childhood accidents. This reasoning process, which uses knowledge about children's behavior in an environment, leads to appropriate preventive actions on the part of the caregiver. Illustrative examples of parents interacting with children are presented. (VM)

Examines critically the National Transportation Safety Board's post-1977 school bus standards, which encourage but do not require seat belts. (JBM)

Precautionary measures that should be taken by individuals to provide for safer participation in a vigorous exercise program are outlined, including the need for physical examinations, physical conditioning and warm-up, proper clothing and equipment, and awareness of environmental hazards. (JMF)

Changing transportation policies, involving parents, and working with children and community leaders are methods that early childhood educators can use to increase the transportation safety of the children in their programs. Included is an annotated bibliography on preschool child transportation safety. (AS)

Comparing the safety record of school buses to that of automobiles does not account for the nonschool time when automobiles are used. Experiences where seat belts are installed in school buses show that students use them, insurance is not a problem, and cost is slight. (MLF)

The importance of motor development has been well understood by early childhood educators for many years. Unfortunately, they have received little in the way of guidance from designers or manufacturers of play equipment as to how to provide for safe active play. Things have gotten a lot better since 1991. Advocates for children's play have…

The myriad and complex health and safety needs of a college or university campus are discussed. Consideration is given to the demands of fire prevention, accident prevention, food service standards, and the mental and physical well-being of students, faculty, and staff. Structural and architectural concerns of the well-designed campus are…

Provides examples of research examining relationships between psychosocial variables and injuries, and highlights some common methodological problems. Argues that research of this nature has little potential for being translated into practical countermeasures and, as such, should be accorded low priority. (RH)

The National Playground Safety Institute believes it is essential to develop and administer a national voluntary certification program for playground safety inspectors. Certified individuals would routinely receive new information and instruction in new procedures. The paper discusses who should receive such certification and how they would be…

Presents a crisis plan for schools to enact in emergencies, from the first 30 minutes after the incident to several weeks afterward. Includes: (1) recruiting the entire school staff in the plan's conception; (2) appointing a leader and a group of people responsible for carrying out specific tasks; (3) conducting a full-facility review to address…

This paper describes the evolution of playground safety, discussing the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) "Handbook for Public Playground Safety" and examining the direction in which CPSC guidelines are moving. The paper notes the importance of certification of playground equipment, reviews pertinent questions to address, and…