EPIDEMIOLOGY OF INJURIES SUSTAINED IN HIG H-SCHOOLS - ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

A prospective study was conducted to evaluate injuries that occurred i n high schools and vocational schools over a one-year period in the Pa ris area, France. Injuries sustained while traveling to and from schoo l were not considered. Of the 35 895 adolescents included in the study (24 859 in high schools and 11 036 in vocational schools), 1980 (5.5% overall, 3.6% in high schools, and 10.2% in vocational schools; P<0.0 01)) sustained an injury during the study period. Injuries were more l ikely to occur in the morning (51% in high schools and 58% in vocation al schools). Injuries occurred during hands-on training courses in 85% of cases and during classes in 75% of cases (P<0.001); 5% and 34% of injuries in high schools and vocational school, respectively, occurred during workshop classes (P<0.001). The injuries were caused by direct impact in 48% and 41% of cases (P<0.001), falls in 33% and 24% of cas es (P<0.001), and sharp objects in 11% and 22% of cases (P<0.001). The lesions consisted in hematomas and contusions in 37% and 29% of cases (P<0.001), sprains in 29% and 18% of cases (P<0.001), fractures in 6% and 4% of cases, and cuts in 19% and 41% of cases (P<0.001). Fifty-si x per cent of injuries that occurred in vocational school students inv olved the upper limbs. Management consisted in on-site care in 46% of high school and 56% of vocational school students (P<0.001), outpatien t care at a hospital clinic in 14% of cases overall, and inhospital ca re in 2% of cases overall. In 75% of hospitalized cases, duration of t he hospital stay was shorter than 48 h. One per cent of the injuries w ere serious. The injury had no impact on academic performance in 77% o f cases and on participation in sports and/or workshop classes in 71%. There were no deaths or severe residual lesions.