Training your teachers and playground supervisors can decrease your student injuries by approximately 40%. Quality training can save your school and district a huge legal bill.
As many of you probably know, I serve as an expert witness when children are injured at school. I turn down more than 50% of cases because there is no defense for some situations. I've been an expert witness for some cases in which a child was injured severely and will cope with the injury for the rest of their life. Inevitably, the teacher or person supervising has little training in their responsibilities in supervision children (especially in the outdoor environment).
This is troubling on many fronts. Most injuries are avoidable. A key legal point to consider is the questions was the injury "avoidable"? Another key question the court will determine is if school staff had "prior knowledge" of a dangerous situation and did nothing to correct it. In both cases, the court would likely hold both the school principal and district superintendent liable for the injury.
Chapter 1 Featured Supervision Articles on: Playground Supervision Reduces Injuries, People Make a Difference on the Playground, Playground Supervision Accident or Injury, The Effects of Peaceful Playgrounds on Injuries and Playgrounds Can Be Safe: Injury Reduction.
Chapter 2 includes : Tip Sheets for playground supervisors. Principals can hand them out to playground supervisors at the beginning of the school year. Topics include: Playground Supervisors Tip Sheet, Ten Tips for Improving Playground Supervision, Tips and Techniques for Supervising the Playground, How to Respond to Discipline Issues on the Playground, and a sheet on Playground Supervisor's Instructions.
Chapter 3 consists of forms that may be helpful in supervising the playground including
Equipment Checkout Form, Playground Behavior Reports, and a Public Playground Safety Checklist and an article on Handling Emergencies on the Playground.
Chapter 4: Guides consists of various guides for the playground including A Playground Supervisor's Guide and information on download two free guides 1) Dirty Dozen Playground Injuries and the Playground Safety Handbook from the CPSC.
Supervisor's Guide Price $19.99 Sale Price $17.50 Digital Download