FAST FACTS
- More than 12,000 people between the ages of 0 and 19 die from unintentional injuries each year.
- More than 9 million people in the same age group are seen in emergency rooms for injuries each year.
- Children between the ages of 1 and 4 had the highest rate of nonfatal falls.
When parents and guardians drop their children off at daycare or put them on the bus in the morning, they do so with the assumption that the adults in charge of their care will keep them safe. No parent expects a phone call during the workday telling them that their child has suffered an injury after being involved in an accident. Unfortunately, these phone calls are made every day.
As Nashville personal injury lawyers, we have represented families in which children have suffered injury through no fault of their own. Many of these children were injured in accidents that were preventable while out of their parents’ care. If you have a small or school-aged child, knowing the most common school and daycare injuries can help you keep them safe.
The Most Common School Injuries
Without a doubt, the most common injuries at school occur on the playground. Teachers and other staff tasked with supervising children on a playground or gym set have an incredible responsibility.
Accidents can happen in seconds and serious injuries can result. Here are the most common injuries suffered by children at school.
1. Lacerations and Contusions
Some of these injuries can be minor, but some injuries sustained on a playground are severe. A child may be cut if they run across a bolt or nail that isn’t fastened or inserted properly, or receive a bruise when they slip off a piece of equipment.
Parents should observe cuts and bruises for several days to be sure signs of infection aren’t setting in.
2. Head Injuries
Head injuries can occur from slips and falls as well as tumbling off playground equipment. Head injuries have also occurred when one child jumped on top of another. These injuries are dangerous because they are not always apparent.
If your child comes home from school or daycare and describes some type of head trauma, have them medically evaluated as soon as possible.
3. Sprains and Strains
A sprain is damage to a ligament, and a strain is damage to muscle and/or tendons. These injuries can occur while your children is playing on the playground, participating in gym class or even walking in the classroom and tripping over an object.
Sprains and strains are typically easy to care for at home, but should be diagnosed by a doctor.
4. Dislocated Joints
A dislocated joint can be painful. A dislocation is when a bone pops out of the socket at a joint like the knee, elbow or shoulder. A doctor will have to put the bone back in place and then brace it so it can heal correctly.
These injuries most often occur on playgrounds, in the gym and while participating in sports.
5. Internal Injuries
Internal injuries can be just as dangerous as head injuries because they can remain unseen. If your child complains of pain following an accident at school or has a bruise that will not go away, medical intervention is warranted.
Don’t brush off a child’s complaints of pain following an accident even if you don’t see an obvious injury.
6. Fractures or Broken Bones
A fracture is a broken bone. The break may be partial or complete. When a child trips and falls, they may sustain a broken bone anywhere in their body, but the most common locations are arms and legs.
Fractures tend to be obvious injuries, but don’t count on that. A partial fracture may not be easily seen and could appear only as swelling and discomfort.
7. Accidental Strangulation
A child may get wrapped in a swing’s chain or a rope feature on the playground equipment. It’s up to the school or daycare to ensure that all playground equipment is safe and appropriate for use.
It’s also the adults’ duty to supervise children on the playground at all times.
Our NashvillePersonal Injury Attorneys Are Here to Help
None of these injuries should happen because they are mostly preventable. Children trip and fall and sometimes this can’t be avoided. However, when an injury stems from an accident that is caused by malfunctioning or ill-repaired equipment or a lack of supervision, parents have the right to seek compensation.
According to the CDC, there are more than 200,000 children who experience injuries on playground each year. The agency says that some of these injuries are due to faulty equipment, and some of them could have been prevented if children were properly supervised. It’s not only playgrounds that present a hazard.
Children are also injured by falling objects. Shelves, tables and chairs fill classrooms across America. Staff have the responsibility to ensure that these objects aren’t in danger of tipping over and harming a child. Children in daycare are also injured by bottle warmers on a too frequent basis. These items should always be out of reach of children, as should their cords.
No child should be injured because of an accident that could have been prevented. If this has happened to your family, you need a Nashville personal injury attorney who will aggressively fight for your rights. You and your family do not deserve to be in financial distress, nor should your child be suffering.
At Steinger, Greene & Feiner, we will work tirelessly to make things right by holding the negligent party accountable. Reach out to our office today to schedule your free case evaluation and let us fight for you.