School injury trends.

This article presents data gathered between 1985 and 2000 from nine public schools in a Midwestern suburban school district. Data were compiled from routine documentation on health office logs and incident reports when students entered the health offices with a first-aid need. The purpose of the article is to demonstrate the value of the collection and analysis of injury data as a part of the school nurse's role and provide some samples of injury data that can be used for comparison purposes. First aid is the most frequent reason to see the school nurse and is an important function. Student injuries can cause absenteeism that interferes with student academic success. Whether the school nurse delegates or directly provides first aid, it is important to collect and analyze information about school injuries to plan injury prevention strategies when appropriate.