Playground Safety Week

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
A Proclamation
His Excellency Governor Deval L. Patrick

Whereas The safety and well-being of the children of the Commonwealth is paramount; and

Whereas Every year more than 200,00 children are injured on playgrounds in the United States equaling an average of one playground-related emergency room visit every 2.5 minutes; and

Whereas A large percentage of playground injuries occur from April through June when more children play in playgrounds; and

Whereas Providing proper supervision, age appropriate equipment, materials to soften falls to the surface and maintaining equipment are all effective ways of making playgrounds more safe; and

Whereas Better informed parents and children can reduce injuries and lead to a more safe playing environment,

Now, Therefore, I, Deval L. Patrick, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby proclaim April 23rd-27th, 2012, to be

Playground Safety Week

And urge all the citizens of the Commonwealth to take cognizance of this event and participate fittingly in its observance.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston, this thirtieth day of March, in the year two thousand and twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
               
By His Excellency                  

Deval L. Patrick                       
Governor of the Commonwealth     

William Francis Galvin           
Secretary of the Commonwealth

God Save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts