Mark & Associates, P.C. Reminds Parents About School Safety

October 7, 2008 – Uniondale, New York – As an estimated 50 million American children have recently returned to school campuses across the country, Mark & Associates, P.C., a leading nationwide personal injury and consumer rights law firm, reminds parents to follow some simple back-to-school safety tips.

Unfortunately, bicycle, scooter, and skateboard accidents, injuries on playground equipment, and other school-related incidents kill or injure thousands of school-age children each year. Many of these accidents are preventable if parents and children take some steps to protect the students.

Mark & Associates, P.C. has offices in Boston, Massachusetts and Long Island, New York. The firm aggressively represents victims of school-related personal injuries, defective products, dangerous pharmaceuticals and medical devices, and serious accidents. More information on Mark & Associates, P.C. is available at http://www.youhaverights.com and http://www.childrenslegalgroup.com .
Back-to-School Safety Tips
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is among the groups advising parents of school-age children on ways to protect students from some of the most common school-related injuries. The commission’s tips include:

• Bicycle Helmets – Bicycle accidents are to blame in the deaths of about 80 children under age 16 each year. In 2007, children under age 15 accounted for more than 80 percent of the nearly 50,000 emergency room visits for accidents involving unpowered scooters. Wearing an appropriate safety helmet has been shown to reduce the risk of serious head injuries by as much as 85 percent.

• Clothing Dangers – Many parents and children may not be aware that certain types of clothing can pose substantial risks of serious injury. Drawstrings on sweatshirts and other articles of clothing can easily get caught in playground equipment and bicycle gears, causing strangulation or accidents. Since 1985, 27 children have been killed and 70 others have been injured by drawstrings in children’s clothing, the commission reports. To protect children, parents should make sure that clothing fits well and that drawstrings are no longer than necessary.

• Playground Equipment Accidents – More than 200,000 emergency room visits each year are the result of children being hurt while playing on playground equipment found on most school campuses around the country. Many children suffer devastating severe head, neck, and back injuries and broken bones in falls from dangerous or defective playground equipment. Parents should always take time to inspect slides, jungle gyms, and other pieces of playground equipment to ensure it is safely designed, built, and maintained in order to limit the risk of devastating injuries. More information is available at http://www.playgroundinjurylawsuit.com .

• Backpack Injuries – Painful back, neck, and shoulder injuries may be caused by backpacks children commonly use to carry books and other materials to and from campus. A backpack that is too heavy for the child carrying it or that lacks the necessary support can result in chronic and painful injuries. As a general rule, officials say a backpack should weigh no more than 10 to 20 percent of the student’s weight. Also, backpacks should distribute weight evenly and have wide, padded shoulder straps to discourage muscle strains. Rolling backpacks or luggage may be a good option for some students.

About Mark & Associates, P.C.
Mark & Associates, P.C. is a leading personal injury and consumer rights law firm with offices in Boston, Massachusetts and Long Island, New York. The firm aggressively represents victims of serious accidents, defective products, dangerous pharmaceuticals and medical devices. More information on Mark & Associates, P.C. is available at http://www.youhaverights.com.


For more information:
Jason Mark, Esq.
626 Rexcorp Plaza
Uniondale, NY 11556
http://www.youhaverights.com
1-866-507-4448

Contact Information

Jason Mark

Attorney at Law

Mark & Associates, P.C.

Contact via E-mail