We have all been there, a steady stream of student visits, many stemming from recess incidents during the lunchtime rush. I call it a chaotic ballet, with students coming in droves to see the school nurse for a wide variety of needs. But what happens when a visit is much more emergent? What catches our attention? What can we miss from the sheer volume of students running in and out of our offices? Did you know that nearly 80% of playground injuries are caused by falls?
I am sharing this article as a reminder that we can only see one student at a time. Our students and staff can WAIT so that we can give our FULL attention to who is right in front of us. My heart goes out to this family, their child, and also the school nurse who I can only imagine was doing their best.
Family sues Uintah School District, claims fall left 8-year-old with lifelong injuries
- The school failed to properly supervise Treyson when he fell and was unable to stand up or walk without help.
- The school kept important injury information from the Johnsons and did not provide them with an injury checklist that would have prompted a referral to a healthcare professional to evaluate Treyson’s concussion symptoms.
- The school administrators knew the playground’s ground cover was too hard and had two chances to fix it before Treyson’s fall, but did not do so.
- The delay in recognizing Treyson’s serious injuries and getting him proper medical care likely worsened his prognosis. He had to undergo emergency surgery at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City and suffered a stroke, leaving him with life-changing injuries requiring lifelong care.
Resources:
CDC Heads Up for School Nurses – Resources for Traumatic Brain Injury Assessment
American Academy of Pediatrics webpage on playground safety
