Field Day & Previous Injuries

[NanaPoo]

Field Day is coming. Yay!

We just happen to have multiple students with various injuries...several broken bones throughout the school. A teacher has questioned whether we should allow these students to participate in Field Day without a doctor's or parent's release.

What is the experience you've had in the past? Do you require a doc's note to allow an injured student to participate in PE, sports, or field day activities?

[OldDude]

If they are under no current physical restrictions from the MD - yes. Otherwise the restrictions apply to field day, etc.

[KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN]

My daughter has several medical problems, mostly stemming from her birth ("extreme premee"). In those few cases the nurse attending the event was not our school nurse, I put in backpack snacks, water, and a note with explicit instructions of what not to do, not to eat, and where to call in case of any event or any question. Then I have yet another talk with my girl about 1) get the nurse and give her this note first thing in the morning, and 2) even if everybody else decided to eat pizza of unknown origin, climp the stone wall without adults checking equipment first, jump down from the bridge, etc., stop, think, and say "no" if the great idea doesn't sound so great. Also, if you see other kids going to do something crazy, say something to any adult you can get. No problems so far, nurses read the notes, called couple of times with appreciation of my care for my own and other children' welfare. Although, I know my girl will rather sit alone and cry than do something that could lead to ER visit. She hates hospitals.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

for me it's simple - if right up to the day of field day you were not medically cleared to participate in PE (and in my school no PE means no recess and no school sponsored sports either) then you are not cleared to participate in field day either without medical clearance. I won't allow a student to participate on crutches or with any type of cast, regardless of how much a parent assures me that they're running around at home. It amazes me how students suddenly have these miraculous recoveries the day of field day then relapse the next day.

[100kids, BSN, RN]

for me it's simple - if right up to the day of field day you were not medically cleared to participate in PE (and in my school no PE means no recess and no school sponsored sports either) then you are not cleared to participate in field day either without medical clearance. I won't allow a student to participate on crutches or with any type of cast, regardless of how much a parent assures me that they're running around at home. It amazes me how students suddenly have these miraculous recoveries the day of field day then relapse the next day.

I agree and follow the same line of thinking. My own son had a broken arm the day of field day. I let him go to his grandmas and do something fun with her that day instead of being tormented watching everyone else run around.

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

for me it's simple - if right up to the day of field day you were not medically cleared to participate in PE (and in my school no PE means no recess and no school sponsored sports either) then you are not cleared to participate in field day either without medical clearance. I won't allow a student to participate on crutches or with any type of cast, regardless of how much a parent assures me that they're running around at home. It amazes me how students suddenly have these miraculous recoveries the day of field day then relapse the next day.

Yep.

And I don't care how "protective" that cast is. Unfortunately, it also becomes an issue when said cast hits another student accidentally across the face during [insert field day event here]. It is a weapon on its own!

[GmaPearl BSN RN]

Caught a girl with a newly casted broken arm playing tetherball and called her out. She was quite put out, because obviously it was ok to play again since that arm was so well protected…… Another brain trust with fracture, boot/splint and note from Dr. re no PE kept trying to play basketball at recess. Some are just born without a logic gene.

Field day is not my favorite! And no you can not do the water relay while wearing a cast… even if I can smell it as you walk in the door!

[NanaPoo]

Great stuff..thanks!

This is my 2nd Field Day and we do ours off campus. Last year was uneventful but I can't expect that every year, I know!