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Back-to-School Time is Exciting, But Can Be Dangerous for Kids

It’s that time of year again, when school-age kids hang up the swimming trunks and pick up the text books. In the coming weeks, more than 50 million American children will head back to school, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which is urging parents to follow some simple school-safety rules.

From bicycle and pedestrian safety to playground equipment precautions, many serious and deadly school-related injuries can be prevented.

Bicycle Helmets

Even though in most states it is the law, too many school-aged children still do not wear safety helmets when riding bicycles, scooters, skateboards, or other similar modes of transportation to and from school. Statistics have shown that wearing a helmet reduces the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent.

Bicycle accidents claim the lives of about 80 children under age 16 each year, according to the commission. In 2007, children under age 15 accounted for more than 80 percent of the nearly 50,000 emergency room visits resulting from accidents involving unpowered scooters.

Parents who need information on what type of helmet and other safety equipment would be best for a wide range of activities can get help at http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/349.pdf.

Clothing Dangers

The clothing children wear to school can pose significant safety risks. Drawstrings on hooded sweatshirts and other garments can easily get caught in playground equipment and cause strangulation. Loose-fitting clothing can also become tangled in bicycle gears.

Since 1985, the product safety commission has received 27 reports of deaths and 70 non-fatal incidents caused by drawstrings in children’s clothing. Therefore, parents should make sure that children wear appropriate and well-fitting clothing to school in order to reduce the chance of injury.

Playground Equipment Accidents

Every year, more than 200,000 emergency-room visits are attributed to injuries occurring on playground equipment. In some cases, only minor bumps and bruises are the result. However, severe head, neck and back injuries, broken bones, and other serious injuries are caused by dangerous or defective playground equipment.

In an effort to reduce such accidents, parents should ensure that playground equipment is safe and properly maintained before allowing children to play. Defects such as broken or rusty parts, unsafe surfaces, and insufficient clearance around the equipment can lead to devastating injuries. Metal equipment should be inspected to ensure it is not hot enough to burn hands and feet.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission’s podcast on the topic of playground safety can be heard at http://www.cpsc.gov/mp3.html.

Backpack Safety

Backpacks commonly used to carry books, lunch, and other school materials to and from campus can cause serious back and neck injuries in children. Backpacks that lack proper support straps or are too heavy should be avoided.

As a general rule, safety officials say a backpack should never weigh more than 10 to 20 percent of a student’s weight. That means if your child weighs 100 pounds, his or her backpack should weigh no more than 10 to 20 pounds.

Parents should be sure that backpacks have wide, padded shoulder straps and compartments to equally distribute weight. Children should not sling backpacks over one shoulder, which can strain muscles in the back, shoulders, and neck. Many students have started using rolling backpacks or luggage to and from school.

Take Steps to Ensure Your Child’s Safety

Taking a little time to make sure your child wears a safety helmet while biking or skating to school and has the proper clothing and backpack can help ensure a safe, happy school year. School-related injuries can be devastating, but in most cases, they are entirely preventable.