PE injury at middle school

[lost in ak]

What is the name of your state? Alaska

My 13yr old son was in PE class the activity was to jump from one box to another box stacked 2, then to 3, and then back down 3,2,1 at the end of the course there was a stack of four boxes, the children would jump from the floor to the top. A couple of kids challenged this activity and added two more boxes to the stack to make 6 boxes. Some kids chose to jump on the stack and some chose not to. After a few kids jump on the stack of six it was my sons turn he went to jump up and when he landed three boxes from the top slipped out from under him. He fell down and was rushed to the ER via paramedics. Later we found out he has a spiral fracture of his tibia. Now requires an Orthopedic Surgeon and we will not know at this time is surgery will be required, the doctor wants to see how his healing progress goes. The Ortho doctor told me his injury is severe and it could take up to a year to fully recover. The next day my son was on the phone with a friend from school and explained what had happened, this friend is in a different PE class than my son and she said the boxes were stacked to 7 high in her PE class. When I spoke with the PE teacher he claims he has no knowledge of children challenging the activity and does not recall the boxes higher than 4. Obviously the children are challenging this activity in other class periods and this PE teacher is either oblivious to his surroundings, or he is allowing children to go outside of his daily cirriculum to challenge activities. The PE teacher then told me it is the students responsibility to make sure the boxes are secure before they jump on them. Is the school liable for my son's medical bills? I am wondering if it is worth filing a claim or to just let it go.

Thank you

[stephenk]

Let your health insurance take care of the bills. Do you have any health insurance through the school? Most schools offer medical insurance at the beginning of the year for injuries that happen on campus.

Was a report prepared of the incident by the PE teacher? What does the teacher say happened?

[lost in ak]

No I do not have health insurance and when my son was enrolled he had insurance so I did not opt for the health insurance. Since then our insurance situation has changed and he as been without insurance for two months. When I spoke with the pe teacher he had no clue what had happened he said he did not see the accident happen but he thought my son tripped over his own foot. I explained to him that is not what happened he jumped on the blocks and three blocks gave way and collapsed with him. He then told me the students have a responsibility to make sure the blocks are secure before they jump on the equipment. I don't know if the pe teacher filled out an accident report, I have not recieved any paperwork from his school except his homework assignments I requested.

[xylene]

I mean, if the kid was playing b-ball or even doing gymnastics... I could see the schools perspective....


But, give me a break. Jumping from boxes. Sounds very low rent. I mean that coupled with the "the kids are obligated to check if its secure"

I wouldn't trust them.

[lost in ak]

They are not really boxes from what it is described to me is the step for step aerobics and the stack them higher for the students to leap over to the next stack. I was stunned when the pe teacher told me it was the students responsibility to make sure the equipment is secure before they jump on them. I disagree, I wonder why they hired him then. All I know my son is a very athletic boy made 1st place JV wrestling in his weight class, plays basketball, and was going to sign up for football. Now that is all put to a stop. My concern is that the equipment the students are jumping on is not secure to the floor and slide if pushed so these kids are being told to jump from one to another. I am sure any Occupational Medicine doctor would say that activity is a hazard for many different types of injuries.

[stealth2]

Originally Posted by lost in ak

I explained to him that is not what happened

So... you were there and observed the accident occur?