Children are one of the most precious gifts given to parents by God. They are a sign of blessing. A parent’s love for his children knows no bounds. Unfortunately, children school injuries in New York City are common during their daily activities at school or in an educational facility.
The New York City Public School System is one of the most prominent educational systems in the United States. It is responsible for educating over 1.1 million students annually, with its central offices located downtown Manhattan.
New York City had a higher crime rate than other areas throughout the US; this high level of criminal activity may make parents feel uncomfortable about their children’s safety while they are at school.
This article will explore the ten most common causes of child injuries from school accidents in New York City Public Schools
1. Falls caused by slippery surfaces or lack of handrails
According to data compiled by Nellie Mae Education Foundation, falls are one of the most common causes of child injury throughout public schools in NYC, accounting for over 16% of all youth injuries. Often, falls can be caused due to poor building conditions such as slippery surfaces or lack of appropriate handrails.
To make matters worse, these hazardous conditions may not always be located within the student’s immediate surroundings; they could also originate from other areas that were once dry but get wet due to weather (i.e., snow) or other forms of moisture (i.e., spilled liquids).
Slip and fall accidents can cause fractures in arms, legs, or hands;
- head injuries that may include concussion and traumatic brain injury (TBI), which in turn may result in permanent damage to eyesight and hearing;
- lacerations resulting from broken glass in floors;
- bruises from falls on furniture or when students trip over objects such as books, toys, or other items left lying around;
- back injuries due to falls when children slip-on slides and land badly when coming down.
When such accidents occur at school because of negligent supervision by teachers, school administrators, or careless maintenance personnel who failed to make sure that the premises are safe for use, they may be held responsible for any resultant injuries.
2. Struck by objects or equipment causing blunt force trauma
New York City public school students are at risk of being struck by things or equipment that may cause them to sustain serious injuries such as fractures, concussions, lacerations, and even death.
An example of this could be if one student jokingly throws another child’s book bag onto a busy street; the next thing they know is that an ambulance is rushing their kid to the doctor because he got hit by a car trying to retrieve his property!
Schools should implement mandatory training programs for all students to explain how to interact with classmates appropriately to prevent this from happening. This way, incidents involving blunt force trauma are avoided.
3. Struck against objects, equipment, furnishings
Being struck against objects and equipment is yet another cause of child injury in New York City public schools. This type of accident occurs when students use their bodies to collide forcefully with objects or items within their surroundings.
While most students realize the potential dangers of this activity, some still choose to partake in it because they are either unaware of its consequences or find it fun to do with friends.
Regardless of their reasoning behind it, striking against objects can severely injure another person’s body if not performed with enough care and caution.
To avoid incidents like these occurring at school, teachers should implement more comprehensive lessons that teach students how to operate tools and equipment properly.
4. Struck against objects, equipment, furnishings resulting in falls
Like the above scenario, students who are struck against objects or items may fall due to their actions. For example, if one student throws another child’s book bag into a busy street and then decides to chase it without looking first, they can get hit by a car or truck while crossing illegally!
Even though New York City has designated areas where pedestrians cross the street, teenagers often ignore these rules because they feel invincible at this age.
To ensure students don’t become victims of school injuries from falls caused by striking objects or equipment, schools should implement stricter disciplinary measures that punish those who violate traffic laws.
5. Struck by motor vehicles causing bodily harm
Any hit by any vehicle can be extremely dangerous, especially if the vehicle’s speed is high enough to cause serious harm.
According to a report by AAOS (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons), children are at risk for sustaining injuries from school bus accidents because they often try to cross streets illegally or ignore traffic signs that warn them about oncoming cars.
This means that schools need to provide students with more comprehensive lessons that teach them how to properly cross streets without endangering their own lives and have stricter disciplinary action against those who violate traffic rules (and yes, this goes for teachers too!).
It is negligent for parents to allow their kids to use public transport unsupervised, especially if they know that reckless driving poses a significant danger to everyone using roads, including minors.
Given that many students these days rely on public transportation, careless driving leading to injuries should not only be discouraged but also punished accordingly because it endangers young lives, including those yet unborn, by causing congenital disabilities due to trauma suffered by pregnant women involved in accidents while taken pregnancy tests at local health facilities.
6. Animal Attacks
Most schools receive letters from parents seeking permission for their child to bring a pet to school. Unfortunately, some children are often attacked by dogs on the school premises when they approach them without their owner’s knowledge. School administrators should be liable if they allow animals to roam free on or around the school premises and fail to warn students of an impending attack.
Many public health experts recommend that animals should not be allowed in educational facilities because of the threat they pose to children’s health and welfare, especially those carrying infectious diseases such as rabies, one of the major causes of fatalities among children.
7. Animal Bites
Some animals become aggressive when their owners take them for walks without keeping an eye on them or keep them away from children who may tease and taunt them in ways that can cause injury, especially when they directly come into contact with sharp teeth and claws.
Animal attacks often happen during school hours because of a lack of proper security measures against wild predators posing a significant threat to life and limb. Many parents drop off their kids at school before going to work and pick them up after closing time, leaving minors vulnerable to abduction by would-be criminals even when there are guards at the gate.
Pet owners coming into schools for pet therapy events involving play with dogs should not do so without the complete supervision of teachers and officers overseeing such activities because kids can fall ill due to pet allergies.
In contrast, others may get injured by aggressive animals. Parents bringing their pets to school must provide proof of vaccination against rabies and other preventable diseases, transmittable by contact with saliva, blood, urine, and feces.
How to prevent injuries from school accidents?
There are specific rules to be followed on how to prevent injuries from school accidents, for example:
– Children should not be allowed to bring sharp items such as pencils and knives to school
– All schools should have first aid kits available
– Teachers and administrators should be trained on the first aid procedures to implement in case of an injury.
If your child is injured:
Always go for emergency medical treatment after a significant injury or if the damage worsens over time rather than improving. You can visit a nearby urgent care center or clinic for sprains and broken bones, bumps and bruises, cuts requiring stitches, and other minor issues such as head lice.
If you think it might be more severe than you initially thought, you should also consider going to an emergency room that the doctor on call can refer you to if necessary.
Also, If you have been injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you should contact any personal injury attorney to help you. We have decades of experience handling all types of individual injury cases. We will aim to provide you with the legal advice you need to win your case. So call us now for an appointment at 212-888-2686. We are here to help.