Risks to Students in School

Jan 1995 · U.S. Government Printing Office

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Every day, school-aged children encounter a wide variety of hazards that occur both outside and inside schools. This document presents findings of a report that examined the scientific data on the risks for student injury and illness in the school environment. The information is designed to help administrators set priorities for reducing risks to students. The report focuses on the risks that students between 5 to 18 years old encounter while they are at school, on the school grounds, at school-related activities, and traveling to and from school. Key findings include: (1) The two leading causes of death in school-aged children are motor vehicles and firearms; however, relatively few of these deaths occur in schools or on school buses; (2) quite often, the relative safety of schools, on a national average basis, is unknown; and (3) schools contribute to the risks of injury or illness in school-aged children; however, little is known about schools' contribution to nonfatal illness and injury. Finally, national data, particularly for environmental hazards, were usually inadequate to assess the risks to students. Data are presented for incidence of unintentional injuries, including playground-related, school-athletics, transportation, school-bus-related, pedestrian injuries, along with data for intentional injuries, including school-associated violent deaths and weapons. Information is presented for illness caused by environmental hazards, such as asbestos and lead, and for those that arise from exposure to infectious agents. Suggestions for comparing and managing risks are offered. References accompany each chapter. Eight figures and 35 tables are included. (LMI)