The Kotchen Group planned a strategic media campaign using the results of the NPPS research program which assessed the conditions of over 3,000 U.S. playgrounds. The compelling study, which resulted in an overall low grade of “C”, was packaged for distribution in the form of a national, and individual state Report Card.

National Playground Safety Week was created to call attention to the issues, as a platform to release the report-card study results, and to encourage the public to contact the NPPS. During Safety Week, the “C” grade story and interviews with NPPS founder were pitched to national TV and Internet news sites.

The campaign achieved more than 284,000,000 media impressions (150 broadcast stories), including features on NBC’s Today Show, Later Today and magazine placements in Woman’s Day, Parents, Child and Parenting. Also featured on msnbc.com, abcnews.com, and Webmd.com, it received a combined total of 4.5 million hits while posted.

NPPS web site requests increased by 75% following Safety Week while calls to the 800 line doubled during the same time, with a 35 increase in the distribution of safety materials. The media now relies on NPPS and The Kotchen Group for timely information on playground safety issues.