title: Overcoming legal liability concerns for school-based physical activity promotion.
abstract: Schools have been identified as a priority environment for physical activity promotion as a component of efforts to help prevent childhood obesity. A variety of school-based environmental and programmatic strategies have been proven effective in promoting physical activity both on-site and in the surrounding community. However, many schools are deterred by fears of increased risk of legal liability for personal injuries. We examine 3 school-based strategies for promoting physical activity--Safe Routes to School programs, joint use agreements, and playground enhancement--from a tort liability perspective, and describe how schools can substantially minimize any associated liability risk through injury prevention and other strategies. We also recommend approaches to help schools overcome their liability concerns and adopt these critically needed healthy school policies.
authors.affiliation: Sara Zimmerman and Karen Kramer are with the National Policy and Legal Analysis Network to Prevent Childhood Obesity, ChangeLab Solutions, Oakland, CA. Matthew J. Trowbridge is with the Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Trowbridge
mesh_terms: D015444:Exercise; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007351:Insurance, Liability; D016365:Liability, Legal; D055818:Public-Private Sector Partnerships; D012574:Schools; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*