Crutches "Laying Around"

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Specializes in DD, PD/Agency Peds, School Sites.

First thing this morning, I had a high school kid come in here and ask if I had any spare crutches laying around that he could borrow. I told him that the crutches need to be prescribed...and fitted...and improper usage could lead to further injury. Kid was staring at crutches someone must have left in the storage room. I told him that they seem to collect here, but we're not supposed to have them. Really, if a student is injured here, I'd wheel them. Why so many crutches laying around? Where do they all come from??? I swear, there were so many at one of the middle schools, I could barely get the closet closed to hide them. Just curious if anyone else has this issue.

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Thankfully not here. I don't have a single pair. Maybe you could donate them.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

Our Junior High clinic has a "wall of crutches" that has survived several school nurses; a collection of all kinds of metal, wood, wood/metal things - still paired - some really weird looking. I'm not sure why it's there because they don't get used.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

I have 2 pairs. I can't think of why I even bother to keep them, they collect dust like a number of other thing I inherited with this office. You just reminded me to label them for the dumpster.

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Specializes in DD, PD/Agency Peds, School Sites.

Is it true that improperly fitted/used crutches can cause nerve damage? That's a good enough reason to get them the heck outta here.

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Get rid of them ASAP!!!

It is bad enough that the students will "share" stuff like that. The last thing we need is staff and students alike thinking we prescribed those types of things.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

There was a recent thread re a student wanting to borrow a wheelchair. Respondents all negated the option of 'loaning out' whchs for safety/liability reasons.

I don't know to whom you could donate them because they really should be 'fitted' with supervised practice.

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Specializes in School Nursing, Hospice,Med-Surg.

Yes, I have 2 or 3 pair that students are always wanting to borrow, convinced they have broken a foot or ankle. Or they want to drag them out and play with them. It's just another thing for me to have to fuss at them about and run them out of the clinic and back to class. Need to get rid of those things!

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

Loan out that wheelchair and next thing you know your school is viral with a wheelchair trip down the stairs. :nailbiting:

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All we need is to loan out crutches and then have the student biff it while trying to use them. 1-800-Lawyers:woot:

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I have no crutches in my office but I do have a wheelchair that I will use for transport only for a student who has passed out or severe lightheadedness. I don't have a good storage place for it so kids will come in from PE with a sore knee and eye it up, asking if they can use it. Nope, sorrynotsorry. I've had parents ask if I have one here that their child can use and I can't allow it.

Also the brakes don't work, so it is not safe anyway.

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Specializes in School nursing.
There was a recent thread re a student wanting to borrow a wheelchair. Respondents all negated the option of 'loaning out' whchs for safety/liability reasons.

I don't know to whom you could donate them because they really should be 'fitted' with supervised practice.

You could donate them to a local community theater for use in shows only. That is what I am thinking about doing with mine :).

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