Review of the cases of 95 fatal head injuries in children found that brain swelling could be detected as early as 1 hour 17 minutes postinjury using computerized topography scans. Results also suggested that a reported history of a lucid interval in a case not involving an epidural hematoma is likely to be false and the injury probably inflicted.…

A study compared the health care costs, severity of illness (SI), and mortality of child abuse cases (n=13) with other admissions (n=924) in a pediatric intensive care unit. The child abuse patients were younger, had a higher SI, had greater hospitalization charges, and a higher mortality rate than others. (Author/CR)

To help educators understand their legal responsibilities when supervising students, this article reviews the elements of negligence (duty, breach, injury, and causation) an injured party must prove to hold an educator or school system legally accountable. The article also reviews basic defenses to negligence: immunity, comparative/contributory…

A 44-item questionnaire consisting of teacher competency statements was completed by 54 educators of students with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Competencies rated as most important for educators working with students with TBI focused on instructional strategies, program planning, and collaboration with other specialists. Respondents rated the…

A study of 571 Australian children (ages 4-18) with mental retardation investigated potential behavioral risk factors for injury. Results found the prevalence of potential injury risk behaviors to be higher than for typical children and that the behavioral injury risk patterns reflected those seen in younger aged typical children. (Author/CR)

Strength training is an effective method of developing musculoskeletal strength and is often prescribed for fitness, health, and for prevention and rehabilitation of orthopedic injuries. This paper describes and presents a rationale for the population-specific strength training guidelines established by major health organizations. (SM)

Tested the impact attenuation characteristics of safety surfaces used in indoor child care play settings. Found that the most common surfaces used were indoor/outdoor carpet, various types of mats, and safety floor tiles. Nearly 60 percent of tested materials had a critical fall height of 1 foot or less. Concluded that carpet, safety tile, and…

The results of 2 studies determining the effects of body checking in Pee Wee hockey indicate variability in player size and strength is reason to avoid this practice. In leagues allowing body checking, 55 percent of all injuries and greater frequency of serious injury were a result of body contact. (SM)

Investigates relationship between ankle sprains and participation time in competitive orienteering. Examined 15,474 competitors in races in the Swedish O-ringen 5-day event in 1987. Injuries requiring medical attention were analyzed, showing 137 (23.9 percent) ankle sprains. Injury incidence was 8.4/10,000 hours. Incidence of ankle sprains was…

This article discusses risk management in the outdoor physical education or recreation setting from the perspectives of traditional approaches to the problem, the assumption of risk concept, and the characteristics and attitudes of the participants. Guidelines for evaluating a risk management plan are included. (IAH)

A college student was seriously injured in an automobile accident following an off-campus picnic where beer was consumed. The court of appeals absolved the college of liability. Argues that the judgment was in error and that the university-student relationship was a special relationship giving rise to a duty of care. (MLF)

Guidelines under which floor hockey should be taught to prevent avoidable injuries are presented. Three court cases involving floor hockey related injuries are reviewed, and issues of responsibility and liability on the part of physical educators and schools are discussed. (IAH)

Obscene verbalizations in an individual with traumatic brain injury were treated using stimulus fading as the singular form of intervention. Results of a functional assessment revealed the obscenity was maintained by negative reinforcement. Stimulus fading (the gradual reintroduction of instructional demands) produced immediate and substantial…

Two studies involving 164 employed adults and 30 brain-injured and 30 noninjured patients investigated a modification of the Cognitive Estimation Test of Shallice and Evans (1978). The normative and clinical data serve as a starting point for further validation of the newly developed measure. (SLD)

Two basic models are presented of emotional functioning as it is commonly considered relative to brain damage. Methodological concerns in the literature are reviewed, and issues of measurement are highlighted to demonstrate the importance of empirically defining the prevalence of emotional effects. (SLD)