School accidents to children: time to act.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the profile of injuries sustained by children in school accidents and suggest preventive measures.


METHODS
A five month prospective study of children attending an urban accident and emergency (A&E) department.


METHODS
500 children who sustained injuries in school due to a variety of activities.


RESULTS
10 and 12 year old pupils suffered most injuries in school grounds/playgrounds, on concrete, or on grass/soil surfaces due to random activities resulting in striking or being struck by objects/persons, tripping or slipping, and sports (mainly football); 65.5% of these activities were not supervised and 67.4% occurred "out of lessons"; 22% sustained fractures or dislocations, 28.2% needed follow up treatment, and 1.4% were admitted.


CONCLUSIONS
Injuries to children in school are a cause for concern. Effective preventive measures should concentrate on (a) specific target areas using schemes based on individual school, and (b) establishing a credible system of monitoring of their effectiveness.
Maitra
A
A
Accident and Emergency Department, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle Upon Tyne.
D000056:Accident Prevention; D000059:Accidents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012574:Schools; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014505:Urban Population; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control