Games of chance
Injuries will always occur on school playing fields. Add the compensation culture to the mix and schools have a number of challenges to tackle. Being aware of what can go wrong is critical, writes David Collard
When rugby union was still an amateur game, injuries to players were seen as an unfortunate element of a very physical sport. Rugby injuries that occurred at school were no exception. Nowadays, however, with the improved treatment of career-threatening injuries becoming commonplace, it is thankfully rare to hear about a player having to give up the game. For example, a player with an anterior cruciate ligament rupture can now expect to be back playing after six to nine months’ rehabilitation. Ten years ago, the same rupture may well have ended a career.
Sports such as rugby will always make the headlines as the nature of the game involves an element of physical risk. High-profile cases involving young players such as Smoldon and, more latterly, Vowles demonstrate the dangers.
Awareness is key
All school sports carry some risk, however. A study carried out in 1998 involving six European countries (including the UK) found that football (boys) and gymnastics (girls) are the two sports responsible for the most frequent injuries in these countries (rugby was only played in schools in France and the UK, whereas football and gymnastics were pursued in all countries).
The study found that around 5 per cent of school sports injuries involved a visit to hospital; the most common reason was for a fracture of some kind. Next up for a trip to A&E were cuts and lacerations, with injuries to teeth in third place.
Although there has been no recent study involving the UK, the nature and severity of school sports injuries – rather than the frequency – has come under the spotlight.
Good protection
Attitudes to safety on the sports field have improved, however, with advances in safety equipment becoming significant. Schools and sporting organisations acknowledge the devastating impact of a dental injury, for instance, and make efforts to reduce the risk by encouraging the use of equipment such as mouth guards.
The quality and protection offered by mouth guards and gum shields have improved after extensive study into dental injuries. Despite this, accidents are bound to happen, whatever the level of protection.
The risk of tooth damage is obviously increased in physical sports where speed or moving objects – such as bats and balls – are involved. Studies have shown that just under 40 per cent of all dental injuries to children are sports-related: one in four children in the UK will injure or lose a front tooth as a result of an accident.
What can schools do?
The vast majority of schools already heed advice given by sports regulatory bodies. Schools should also check with their insurers about conditions that may apply from non-compliance with such advice. Helmets for cricket and mouth guards for rugby are two examples that readily spring to mind.
Staff training is another important area, particularly for the more physical school sports where specialist knowledge is vital. The high-profile legal cases from rugby injuries have involved, at least in part, the finger of blame being pointed at the referee.
Public liability insurance should be in place at all schools, but the addition of a personal accident cover is highly recommended. Accidents have a nasty habit of being just that – accidents – and if no blame can be attached to the school, then the badly injured pupil may well be left without compensation.
The social, educational and physical benefits of playing school sports are well documented. With continued advances in training, equipment and risk management, there is no reason why school sports cannot continue to grab the headlines for all the right reasons.
References: Endodontics & Dental Traumatology 2004, Post Magazine
David Collard is a director of HSBC’s Education Practice and can be contacted at david.collard@hsbc.com
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