It is getting more expensive to treat schoolyard
injuries, despite there being fewer of them, according to new figures
from the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC).
In 2011, it cost $18.3 million to treat injuries to school pupils, up from $14m in 2010.
The increase is despite the number of injuries dropping, from 63,395 in 2010 to 56,776 last year.
ACC
rehabilitation practice manager Christine Bloomfield said the type and
severity of the injury and the support provided by ACC affected the cost
of claims.
The biggest cause of injury to pupils was a loss of balance or control, with 17,150 claims, Fairfax New Zealand reported.
Hitting
or being knocked over by an object injured more than 7000 pupils, while
6838 injuries were caused by being struck by a person or an animal.
Over 5000 injuries were caused when pupils tripped or stumbled.
Electric
shocks injured four pupils, but 12 were hurt by an explosion, blast or
implosion. Five pupils were hurt after eating fungi.
Most injuries - 42,785 - were treated by general practitioners, but 289 pupils were hospitalised.
NZN