The back-to-school season can be busy. It can also lead to new routines and sometimes, even injuries. Here are a few of the most common school injuries and how to prevent them:
Kids are active and may be even more so when on the playground running around with their friends. Jumping off playground equipment and running through the hallways can lead them to trip and fall. Tripping and falling often lead to sprained ankles, which may or may not require medical care.
When children slip and fall, they are also subject to head injuries. Slip and falls aren’t the only cause of head injuries, either. Children may run into each other during physical education class or hit their heads while getting on or off the school bus. Head injuries may lead to a bad headache, but should always be evaluated by a medical professional to check for a concussion.
It can be our first instinct to reach out to protect ourselves when falling, but this can lead to wrist injuries. A minor injury can cause the wrist’s tendons or muscles to overstretch, leading to pain. It’s also possible to break the bones in, or near, the wrist, which may require the child to wear a cast for a period of time.
Children are also at risk of facial lacerations, usually in the form of cuts or scrapes on the face or neck. This may be due to falling on the playground or running into a tree branch or door. Minor facial lacerations may be treated with bandages but more severe ones may require the child to need stitches.
These are just a few of the most common back-to-school injuries. It may take some time for your child to learn the school’s rules and understand what they can do to be safe at school. Additionally, the excitement of being with friends can lead children to show it through running, jumping, and playing in a rougher manner.
How to Keep Your Kids Safe This Back-to-School Season
As you prepare your child to go back to school, there are a few things that you can do to keep them safe:
- Teach them the rules of playgrounds: It can be helpful to go over the school’s rules for playground equipment use. Discuss what they should, and shouldn’t do.
- Create a drop-off and pick-up routine: The time right before, and right after school can be hectic. Create a routine, determining when and where you’ll pick them up each day.
- Discuss school bus safety: Safety routines shouldn’t stop once your child is off the school’s campus. Teach them how to be safe, even when riding on the school bus.
- Tell them what to do when they feel unsafe: It can also be beneficial to discuss what steps your child should do if they feel unsafe, or hurt. This ensures they receive the care they need.
School injuries are often a mistake, but they can also occur at the fault of someone else. If your child’s school contributed to their injury, then it may be worth it to talk with a lawyer.
Contact a Camden Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Child’s Injury Case in New Jersey
Did you or a child sustain serious injuries due to a school accident in New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at the Law Offices of Andres & Berger P.C. represent clients injured because of a school injury in Camden, Cherry Hill, Gloucester Township, Winslow, and throughout New Jersey. Call (856) 795-1444 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 264 Kings Highway East, Haddonfield, NJ 08033.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.