Every year in the U.S., dangerous products cause at least 60,000 injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. And while some of these products may come in the form of medical devices or home appliances, some are everyday items that are commonly found in schools – putting children at risk of accidents and injuries.
Pinpointing the school items that most commonly harm children, researchers at HealthGrove recently ranked the top 20 most dangerous products in schools. And here’s what they reportedly found…
Top 20 Most Dangerous Products in School
Based on analyzing data from the CPSC (spanning from 1997 to 2014), researchers ranked the following as the top 20 most dangerous items in schools:
- Playground equipment
- Flooring materials
- Stairs
- Furniture
- Doors
- Walls and ceilings
- Chairs and couches
- Lockers
- Poles
- Writing utensils
- Toys
- Knives
- Power tools
- Fences
- Cycling equipment
- Tools (non-powered)
- Windows
- Footwear
- Chemicals
- Scissors.
It’s important to point out that this study did not specify whether the above-ranked products were defective, poorly maintained and/or simply misused or mishandled. In other words, how these items caused injuries was not specified or analyzed by researchers.
How Often Do Kids Get Hurt at School? A Look at the Bigger Picture
According to studies conducted in several states, every year, more than 14 million children are injured throughout the country. Nearly a quarter of those injuries take place at or around schools, a North Carolina Department of Insurance study concluded.
These statistics are not surprising given school children can roughhouse, are curious about their surrounds, and may take risks without understanding (or considering) the consequences. Additionally, smaller children’s injuries may be due, at times, to their misunderstanding of how to safely use items.
What to Do If Your Child Is Hurt at School
Finding out how your child was hurt at school will pivotal to determining whether legal action – and financial recovery – may be an option. Some examples of when children’s injuries at school could be grounds for a personal injury claim can include when (but are by no means limited to) these injuries result from:
- Falls caused by poorly maintained floors
- Accidents caused by poorly maintained playground equipment
- Injuries caused by exposure to toxic substances
- Assaults or accidents resulting from a lack of supervision.
A Word about Private versus Public Schools
It’s important to note that whether your child is injured at a public or private school is also a critical factor in determining your recovery options and best steps for moving forward. This is because, while public schools fall under the umbrella of the state government, private schools do not.
Consequently, injury claims brought against public schools may have different or specific procedures to initiating and resolving the case. In contrast, injuries that occur at private schools can involve suing a private company, including nonprofits, churches, etc., in civil court.
Contact a St Louis Personal Injury Lawyer at Brown & Brown Attorneys at Law
If you or someone you love has been hurt by a dangerous product, at an unsafe property or as a result of any type of negligence, contact a St Louis personal injury lawyer at Brown & Brown Attorneys at Law. Our goal is to preserve and promote the rights and welfare of individuals and families who have suffered injuries and losses and/or who need help navigating the complexities of the legal system.
To learn more about how we can help you, attend a free, no obligations initial consult with a St Louis personal injury lawyer at Brown & Brown. You can schedule this meeting by calling us at 573-333-3333 for our Missouri office or at 618-888-8888 for our Illinois office. You can also email us using the form at the right-hand side of the screen.
