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It’s not surprising that injury-causing accidents happen among school children. Always have! Always will!
Still, to see schoolyard injuries over a five year period quantified in a report is pause for thought.
According to data compiled by the Utah Department of Health, every hour, on average, a student is injured at a Utah school. Fractures and possible fractures lead the list of injuries. Every five days a child is hospitalized after suffering a school injury.
Especially significant is the report’s conclusion that most school injuries are preventable!
In some instances, school staffs could do a better job of monitoring play and aggressive behavior. Safer equipment could be installed. In athletics, more attention could be given to conditioning and following the rules of the game being played. Yet, parents too should become involved. As suggested, “parents need to teach children of all ages to respect authority and their peers, and that bullying is hurtful and dangerous.”
Realistically students can’t be placed in an accident free bubble. Kids will be kids. Accidents will happen. Along with the State Health Department, though, KSL believes reasonable steps can and should be taken to prevent many unfortunate schoolyard injuries.
