Sports-related catastrophic injuries on school campus

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate Catastrophic injuries as defined by Japan Sport Council (JSC) (grades I-XIV) documented on school campus and explore benefits of introducing athletic trainers on campus. All injury data submitted to JSC Injury and Accident Mutual Aid Benefit System between 2009 -2018 that occurred in junior high or high school (n=2,094) were included in the analysis. Injury data were categorized by activity (curricular course, curricular activity, school event, extracurricular activity, recess, other) and location (classroom, laboratory, indoor athletic facility, hallway, staircase, balcony, rooftop, restroom, outdoor athletic field, pool, other).

Athletic injuries were documented in 98%, 86%, and 71% of all injuries that occurred during extracurricular activity, curricular course, and school event. In addition, 93%, 90%, and 96% of all injuries that occurred at outdoor athletic field, indoor athletic facility, and pool, respectively, were related to athletic activity.

JSC data suggest that majority of injuries that occur on junior high and high school campus were related to athletic activities. Therefore, school administrators may benefit from having athletic trainers who can provide first aid and injury prevention services to help elevate the standard of care on school campus.