|
Spicer, R.S.; Young, Xan; Sheppard, M.A.; Olsen, Lenora ; and Miller, Ted R. American Journal of Health Education, vol. 34, pgs. S13-S17 (2003) Academic achievement and high test scores are not the only indicators of a successful school. A good school is also a safe school. Unfortunately, about 3.7 million students suffer an injury at school each year severe enough to require medical attention or limit activity. However, injuries are preventable and data is a critical tool in prevention. Several state and local school systems in the United States have used data to describe and highlight the school injury problem and to design and evaluate injury prevention programs. This paper provides examples of these efforts. It illustrates how health educators can make a difference by getting involved in the creation of surveillance systems and using the generated data to make a convincing argument for school injury prevention. By forming partnerships and developing prevention programs based on valid data, a health educator can lead the way to safer schools.
|
