improving playground safety

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SAFE AT PLAY

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NEWS

Jan​​​​​uary 17, 2024​

  • ​Whereas, the safety and well-being of Georgia's children are of critical importance on both the state and local levels; and playground-related accidents and injuries occur every day and affect hundreds of thousands of children in the United States annually, Governor Brian P. Kemp proclaims April 22 - April 26, 2024, as Playground Safety Week in Georgia.  Click here to view the full proclamation.


February 23, 2023

  • Whereas, the safety and well-being of Georgia's children is of critical importance on both the state and local levels; and playground-related accidents and injuries occur every day and affect hundreds of thousands of children in the United States annually, Governor Brian P. Kemp proclaims April 24 - April 28, 2023, as Playground Safety Week in Georgia.  Click here to view the full proclamation.


February 15, 2022

  • Whereas, the safety and well-being of Georgia's children is of critical importance on both the state and local levels; and on average, there is one playground-related emergency room visit every 2.5 minutes, and more than 200,000 children in the United States are injured on playgrounds annually, Governor Brian P. Kemp proclaims April 25 - April 29, 2022, as Playground Safety Week in Georgia. Click here to view the full proclamation.


February 8, 2021

  • Whereas, the safety and well-being of Georgia's children is of critical importance on both the state and local levels; and on average, there is one playground-related emergency room visit every 2.5 minutes, and more than 200,000 children in the United States are injured on playgrounds annually, Governor Brian P. Kemp proclaims April 26 - April 30, 2021, as Playground Safety Week in Georgia.  Click here to view the full proclamation.


January 16, 2020

  • Whereas, the safety and well-being of our children is a top priority to the nation and to the State of Georgia; and on average there is one playground-related emergency room visit every 2.5 minutes, and more than 200,000 children in the United States are injured on playgrounds annually, Governor Brian P. Kemp proclaims April 27 - May 1, 2020 as Playground Safety Week in Georgia. Click here to view the full proclamation.

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April 19, 2019

  • Whereas, the safety and well-being of Georgia's children is of critical importance on both the state and local levels, especially during the spring and summer seasons; and every year over 200,000 children in the United States are injured while playing at playgrounds, Governor Brian P. Kemp proclaims April 22 - 26, 2019 as Playground Safety Week in Georgia.  Click here to view the full proclamation.


June 19, 2018

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February 13, 2018

  • Whereas, the safety and well-being of Georgia's children is a top priority and each year more than 200,000 children in the United States are injured while playing at playgrounds, Governor Nathan Deal proclaims April 23 - 27, 2018 as Playground Safety Week in Georgia.  Click here to view the full proclamation.

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March 22, 2017

  • Whereas, the safety and well-being of Georgia's children is a top priority and each year more than 200,000 children in the United States are injured while playing at playgrounds, Governor Nathan Deal proclaims April 24 - 28, 2017 as Playground Safety Week in Georgia.  Click here to view the full proclamation.


December 24, 2016

  • ​The monkey bars at the Newton Csounty Theme School have finally been removed many months after the fatal injury of Andrea Tyrah DeBruhl. This should have been done decades ago. It should not have taken the death of our daughter to remove unsafe and outdated playground equipment. ​ We ask that all facilities with play equipment work to put our children's safety first. Please obtain a Certified Playground Safety Inspector to survey your equipment. The CPSI uses the ASTM 1487 and CPSC guidelines to identify playground hazards, such as entrapments and protrusions; to address age appropriate and site planning concerns; to analyze design and layout issues; and to establish a playground safety program. This type of safety program would encompass playground maintenance plans, risk management concerns, regular inspections and audits, teaching safety awareness, and maintaining documentation.


December 10, 2016


March 31, 2016

  •  ​Superintendent Samantha Fuhrey of the Newton County School System received written request from parents of Andrea Tyrah DeBruhl to remove the monkey bars that caused her death.   It was expressed that we are "deeply concerned about the safety of the monkey bars at the Newton County Theme School.  Our daughter’s head was caught in the opening near the top of the bars.  This particular opening is only seven inches wide.  The National Safety Council has identified “head entrapment hazards” of monkey bars and recommends that monkey bars should have 'no openings that measure between three and one-half and nine inches.”  The principal James Meneguzzo received a copy of the letter as well. We pray no other child suffers like Tyrah did and that the school system seriously considers removing the monkey bars.  On April 1, 2016 Ms. Fuhrey communicated via email appreciation for sharing this information. However no comments were made regarding the removal of the monkey bars.