Areschools safer forchildren thanpublic places

Objective-To investigate thefrequency and severity ofaccidents to children in schools. Methods-Retrospective analysis ofaccidentsoccurring inschool over a sixmonth periodandresulting inattendance at an accidentand emergency department. Comparisonwas made withaccidents occurring inpublic places, Results-During thestudyperiodthere were 127schooland251public placeaccidentscausingfractures or dislocations requiring hospital treatmentin3-16year oldchildren; 22.4%(127/567) ofal injuries atschoolresulted infractures or dislocadons, as opposedto 20-8%(251/1197) of thosesustained inpublicplaces. Conclusions-Injuries at schoolare a cause forconcern astheyoccur ina supervisedenvironment andthisshouldbethe targetofaccident prevention measures. (_AccidEmergMed 1996;13:196-197) Key terms:school; accident; prevention; fractures/ dislocations