How to Avoid the Most 6 Common Back-To-School Injuries in Florida

Sending your kids back to school is often both a relief and a new source of stress in your life. While your kids are away, there’s an increased risk of injury, particularly on school playgrounds and property.

With a little preparation, however, you can work with your child to better avoid the most common back-to-school injuries in Florida. This preparation can ensure that your child’s school days are as enjoyable as possible—and that your related medical bills stay low.

Florida’s Most Common Back-To-School Injuries

The injuries your child faces upon going back to school range in severity. Some children, for example, may sprain their ankles during recess. Others may endure serious injuries to their necks or heads if they play school sports. Some of the most common injuries for children at school to face include:

• Sprained ankles and wrists
• Pulled muscles
• Neck injuries
• Concussions and minor brain injuries
• Chipped teeth
• Bone fractures and/or breaks

You can’t, of course, control your child’s behavior while they’re at school. You can warn your child of the risk of injury, however. In the same breath, you can give your children the tools they need to avoid some of these common schoolyard injuries. The best techniques for avoiding these conditions can include:

Teach Your Child How to Stretch

One of the best ways to prevent your child from falling victim to injuries at school is to teach them to stretch. While your child may not stretch before tearing down the hall, knowing how to keep their muscles warm can prevent sprains or breaks in gym class or while at sports practice. 

You can also encourage your child to regularly check in with their bodies and take breaks in the face of unexpected aches.

Encourage Slow, Thoughtful Behavior

In many cases, it may be impossible to prevent your child from running amok at school. You can encourage your child to think before they act, though. Teaching your child how to respond to dangerous obstacles can give them the tools they need to protect themselves from abrupt falls.

You can also teach your child to recognize dangerous weather conditions and adjust their behavior accordingly. This preventative education can limit your child’s risk of slipping and falling.

What’s more, you can work with the representatives at your child’s school to positively reinforce their thoughtful behavior. The more you encourage a thoughtful approach to day-to-day exercise, the more likely it is that your child will avoid some of the most common schoolyard injuries.

Provide Your Child With Safety Gear When Appropriate

No child is going to, say, wear a helmet out to recess. If your child plays sports or is preparing for a rough and rowdy P.E. lesson, you can make sure that they have the equipment they need to stay as safe as possible. You can work with school representatives to determine what equipment may be appropriate for your student to wear during these occasions.

Discourage Your Child From Overworking Themselves

Some children can push themselves so hard at school that they end up injuring themselves. For example, children who want to become sports leaders can find themselves struggling with strains or other injuries due to overworking themselves.

If you think your child may try to overwork themselves at school, sit down with them and talk to them about their goals. While you shouldn’t encourage your children to give up on their goals, you can encourage them to take a reasonable approach to the care and keeping of their bodies. Give them the tools to care for themselves, and you can significantly reduce their risk of injury.

Parents Can Advocate for Their Children in School and in Civil Court

Every parent wants to ensure that their child has the right to safely learn and grow. While you can’t always control how your child behaves on the playground or in the gym, you can still help your child get ahead of those common back-to-school injuries.

If you suspect that a school may have contributed to an injury your child suffered, you can let our team know. The Law Offices of Scott Sobol can help parents with students of all ages assess the relationship between a child’s recent injury and the school’s supervisory policies. We’ve helped over 1,000 clients, and we want to help you, too.

To arrange a free consultation, call (954) 440-2000 or fill out our contact form.