RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Are schools safer for children than public places? JF Journal of Accident & Emergency Medicine JO Arch Emerg Med FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and the British Association for Accident & Emergency Medicine SP 196 OP 197 DO 10.1136/emj.13.3.196 VO 13 IS 3 A1 A K Maitra A1 G Sweeney YR 1996 UL http://emj.bmj.com/content/13/3/196.abstract AB OBJECTIVE--To investigate the frequency and severity of accidents to children in schools. METHODS--Retrospective analysis of accidents occurring in school over a six month period and resulting in attendance at an accident and emergency department. Comparison was made with accidents occurring in public places, RESULTS--During the study period there were 127 school and 251 public place accidents causing fractures or dislocations requiring hospital treatment in 3-16 year old children; 22.4% (127/567) of all injuries at school resulted in fractures or dislocations, as opposed to 20.8% (251/1197) of those sustained in public places. CONCLUSIONS--Injuries at school are a cause for concern as they occur in a supervised environment and this should be the target of accident prevention measures.