Kansas State Child Death Review Board Encourages Safety for School Children
Sept. 7, 2007 -- With the new school year in full-swing, the State Child Death Review Board reminds parents and educators to take extra precautions in protecting students.
Safety issues for traffic
School children should use extra caution if they must walk or ride a bike to a bus stop or school. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately one-fifth of all traffic fatalities involving children ages 5-9 involved happened while the child was on foot. A safe walking/bicycling route should be established by caregivers and students should be instructed on how to properly and safely cross the street. Parents should emphasize the need to be attentive and not distracted by cell phones, iPods, or friends.
Safety issues for the playground
When children are at recess or are playing on a playground, educators and parents should keep a watchful eye. Unsafe play should be prohibited. Across the United States, nearly 10 children die per year from injuries involving playground equipment, and approximately 150,000 children ages 5 to 14 go to the emergency room with playground-related injuries. The injuries range from minor sprained ankles to life-threatening skull or spine fractures. Children who wear very loose clothing or clothing with drawstrings have been known to become entangled in the equipment resulting in injuries.
Safety issues for weather
While playing outside, school children are exposed to various temperatures and should be properly clothed. In hot temperatures, lightweight and light colored clothing should be worn. If one must wear heavyweight clothing or something that covers most of the body, such as a football uniform, extra steps should be taken to ensure the body stays hydrated and cool. Children should be replenished with plenty of fluids, such as water, sports drinks, or juice. Soft drinks can dehydrate the body and should be avoided. Time spent in the intense heat should be limited. Allow children to take a break from the heat by cooling off in the shade or going into an air-conditioned location to avoid deadly conditions such as heat stroke or heat exhaustion.
In the winter months, children should dress in layers; preferably with a wool-blend or cotton material lose to the skin and a waterproof layer on top. They should also wear a stocking cap or a hood to avoid loss of body heat through the head. The hands, feet and face should be covered, especially in windy conditions to avoid frost bite. As with intense heat, time spent outside in frigid temperatures should be restricted.
Parents and educators are encouraged to follow the above suggestions helping keep Kansas schoolchildren safe.
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The SCDRB is a multi-disciplinary, multi-agency board that examines the circumstances surrounding the deaths of all Kansas children (birth through age 17) and children who are not Kansas residents, but who die in the state. The goals of the SCDRB are to describe the trends and patterns of child deaths in Kansas, to develop prevention strategies and to improve sources of data and communication among agencies. The Board works toward lowering child deaths in Kansas through research, education, and legislation.
For additional information, visit the SCDRB Web site at http://www.ksag.org/content/page/id/49 or contact Angela Nordhus, Executive Director, at (785) 296-7970.