The number of students who end up in emergency rooms because of physical education class injuries has increased significantly since the late 1990s, according a new study.

Physical education is a way to educate America’s youth on a healthy lifestyle by stressing the importance of exercise.  But nowadays with more and more children in the school system resulting in an increase in class size, it is harder for teachers to supervise each and every child.  Furthermore, the stress on more physical and highly active means of exercise such as running, rock climbing and football has led to more injuries.

Our firm’s San Diego personal injury attorneys believe physical education does have its place in all schools, but if the risk of injury or wrongful death is higher because of the activities involved, it may be a good idea to promote less dangerous alternatives.

An alternative to fix the problem could be to have a more balanced P.E. schedule so that less children would be placed in each class so the teacher can supervise the activities taking place and administer quick medical treatment if an injury occurs.

Boys and girls tended to have different types of injuries.  Boys were more likely to sustain head injuries like concussions, or sustain cuts or broken bones during group activities.  Girls were more likely to have sprains or strains to the lower extremities. Most of these injuries occurred during individual activities.

Other findings from the study:

• During the 11-year study period (1997-2007), there were an estimated 405,305 injuries in P.E. classes that resulted in emergency room visits.
• Middle-schoolers accounted for 52% of injuries.  Elementary schools claimed 22%  of injuries, and high schools had 26%.
• Boys had 54% of injuries.
• Nearly all patients (99%) were treated and released.  Of those hospitalized, 76% were boys.

Our personal injury attorneys in San Diego believe that these statistics will decrease if preventative strategies are taken to reduce gym class injuries in the future.

Please feel free to call us now at 1-800-655-6585 or you can click here for a free consultation with an experienced San Diego personal injury attorney.  We have a large bilingual staff that can assist you in either English or Spanish.  No fee if no recovery.

About Michael Pines

Michael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who specializes in car accident injury. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes on how insurance companies work and how they decided to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael's inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents.