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School Injuries and Child Safety

By Joseph Low on September 6, 2016

Most schools have rules and procedures for creating safe environments for students. However, injuries sometimes occur at schools through faulty equipment, bullying, inattentive staff, and facility flaws. Knowing your rights and the rights of your child can help you recover damages from school injuries.

Most Common School Injuries

Playground injuries are the most common injuries at schools. 70% of school injuries occur on the playground with common injuries including fractures, cuts, bruises, dislocations, sprains, and concussions. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates more than 200,000 children each year ages 14 and under are treated for more serious playground-related injuries. While this may seem to be a large amount of injuries, most childhood playground accidents are in the home with 70% of playground fatalities occurring on home playgrounds. The majority of injuries, 75%, that do occur at schools or at daycare centers are non-fatal. Falls off of climbing equipment account for 44% of injuries while, playground equipment failures represent 23% of playground injuries. Other injuries include collision injuries that make up 7% of injuries, entrapment that accounts for another 7%, and 15% attributed to other causes.

Liabilities

Liabilities occur from lack of staff supervision of children, faulty equipment, faulty facilities, and staff lack of response to emergencies. The school district, the school, and the staff can be considered liable in situations where there is a lack of supervision or inadequate emergency response because schools are required to hire and train staff according to state policies. Supervision also includes preventing bullying and injuries from bullying because school staff is responsible for safe interactions between students on or off the playground. Staff should establish safety rules inside and outside of the classroom with consequences for breaking the rules. Staff should also establish a school climate that requires respect and does not tolerate bullying. Staff should also be adequately accredited and keep up with training in emergency procedures for their employment. All staff should have first aid training as outlined by state guidelines. Failure to respond in a trained manner and in a manner consistent with school district procedures creates liabilities. It is important for staff to document injury incidents. Failure to document injuries with a school injury report, however minor such as a skinned knee, can be considered basis for staff liabilities in terms of negligence and lack of supervision because the state and school districts require documentation of child injuries.

A qualified Long Beach child injury lawyer can help you recover damages. Contact The Law Firm of Joseph H. Low IV today at (888) 454-56569.

Posted in: Child Injury


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