Reduce School-Related Injuries with
Simple Precautions and Safer Habits

Help Prevent Accidents and Injuries with these Back-to-School Safety Reminders

Amid the rush to stock up on fresh school supplies and fall’s hottest elementary-school fashions, safety concerns often take a backseat to other back-to-school rituals. Most parents simply aren’t aware that school-related injuries account for about 2.2 million injuries each year in children under the age of 14 – and many of these are easily preventable. Here’s a look at where these injuries occur and a few precautions parents can take.

Playgrounds account for the majority of school-related injuries, with falls from equipment making up more than half of these injuries. Ensure that your child’s school has adequate playground surfacing – at least 12 inches of wood chips, mulch or other approved loose-fill safety surface – and that it’s maintained throughout the year. Kids will be kids on the playground, but adequate surfacing can make a nasty fall much less painful and damaging.

Back-to-school time also increases kids’ risk of injury due to traffic, bicycles and school buses. Review ALL basic traffic safety rules with your walkers, car-riders and bicycle-riders to ensure safe to-and-from school habits. Bicycle riders should always wear a helmet (buy a “cool” one if necessary… it’s cheaper than brain surgery!) and be certain that riders know and follow bicycle rules of the road. Bus riders should arrive at the bus stop early, know and follow the driver’s safety rules, walk several steps from the bus upon exiting, and wait for the bus to leave before crossing the street.

Possibly the most effective preventative measure against traffic injuries is being organized and on time! When kids and parents rush trying to organize and arrive at the last minute, safety rules and caution can be forgotten. Kids dash across the street and parents roll through stop signs – that’s just how accidents happen. It’s a challenge, but adding 15 minutes to your morning routine can dramatically decrease the risks to your family and to others.

Clothing such as drawstring hoods and tops, and accessories like backpacks also present safety hazards, accounting for several injuries each year – and even several deaths in the past. Drawstrings and backpack straps can become caught in bus or car doors, presenting a very real and dangerous hazard. Remove drawstrings from garments and, once adjusted to size, cut loose or dangling backpack straps to help prevent these injuries.

Organized sports are another contributor to the tally of school-related injuries, but these don’t have to be “just part of the game.” Parents should be fully aware of all risks and make sure kids are properly conditioned, prepared for the physical demands of the sport, and that the proper safety equipment is always used. Also ensure that the schools sports program is fully prepared to treat emergencies during both practice and competition.

Kids will always be kids. Accidental scrapes, bumps, falls, and even a break or two are just a few of the things we signed on for as parents. But a little extra effort on the side of caution can be difference between a simple band-aid fix and 32 stitches – or worse! The following websites offer more information on school-related injuries and preventative measures:
www.safekids.com
www.cpsc.gov
www.familyeducation.com

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Reduce School-Related Injuries withSimple Precautions and Safer Habits

Reduce School-Related Injuries with
Simple Precautions and Safer Habits