Iowa Personal Injury Blog

School Safety - Leave the cell phone at home.

Steve Lombardi — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:31:00 GMT

Today, we discuss the National School Safety and Security Services site. What do they claim to do? Here is what the site says is the purpose and service.

National School Safety and Security Services

Our school safety consulting services are used by school boards, superintendents, and school administrators to:

· prevent and manage school violence

· reduce safety risks and liability

· improve school-community relations on school safety issues

School leaders use our school safety services because we understand the unique K-12 educational climate and culture dynamics involved in K-12 school safety, school security, and school emergency planning.

Our school safety web site also has free information for school leaders, public safety officials, parents, and others interested in safe schools.

As a lawyer and parent whose raised four children and coached for ten years I have to ask why did Columbine ever happen if the US Government has for the past 25 years been studying school safety issues? I don't get it. What has Pepperdine University learned from this joint venture that they've incorporated into their education safety system that other schools could use to improve?

Three common questions considered to begin assessing school threats could include:

1. What is the motivation of the threat maker and credibility of the threat?

2. Could the threat maker have the information on how to carry out the threat (such as information on how to make bombs or homemade weapons, for example)?

3. Could the threat maker have access to the tools, and the capability, to carry out the threat?

People criticize personal injury lawyers for asking such questions but it comes with the turf, so to speak. We are faced daily with questions of safety and systematic failures within institutions that lead to someone getting hurt. We are constantly measuring risk and prevention measures that work or don't work. We see corporations making post-accident statements that don't make sense; in other words the explanation is nothing more than a cover-up of a systematic failure to do their job. Lawyers don't promote unsafe conditions we respond to post injury requests by people who suffer economic losses they didn't ask to receive. I say this because I'm constantly seeing comments from readers who believe it's appropriate to say because IB writers are personal injury attorneys who earn a living from litigation our advice is somehow tainted. Well if that's true then so is your doctor's advice about cutting out that cancerous tumor. Would you not listen to the surgeon's advice just because he or she earns a surgical fee? No of course you wouldn't so refusing to listen to the lawyer's advice and refusing to even consider what it has to say about risks in your life is ridiculous and ignorant.

In other words stop blaming the personal injury lawyers for society's problems.

Stop blaming personal injury lawyers for product defects that manufacturer's bring into this country.

And stop blaming personal injury lawyers for the number of law suits brought about as a result of the personal injury that fellow citizens suffer due to nothing having to do with the practice of law.

And stop blaming personal injury lawyers for jobs going to Asia. We aren't the Congress that passes laws encouraging factories to ship your jobs overseas. Like you we lawyers don't like it.

So I'm back to all this money being spent to study school safety and security and why Columbine and Virginia Tech-like incidents occurred. What are we getting for our tax dollars? Why spend the money if it's not working?

If you as a parent want to know what you can do to improve school safety don't allow your child to take their cell phone to school. Make them leave it home. Cell phones with text messaging capabilities are adding to the heightened anxiety of the school environment. Students need to have books, paper, pencils and pens. They don't need a phone. They are there to learn and phones have nothing to do with learning. Student cell phones only increase the number of distractions teachers are faced with on a daily basis. Do the teachers a favor and have your child leave the cell phone at home.

National School Safety and Security Services is tracking more and more school incidents across the nation where rumors have disrupted schools and have even resulted in dramatic decreases in school attendance and even school closures due to fears of rumored violence. The issues of text messaging in particular, and cell phones in general, were credited with often creating more anxiety and panic than any actual threats or incidents that may have triggered the rumors.

And don't say your child is different and needs their cell phone to arrange rides and for after-school activities. Learn to plan and teach your child to plan. In my age group, I'm 53 years old, we didn't have cell phones and we did just fine. So do us all a big favor and leave the cell-toy at home. ©

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

School Safety - National School Safety Center Shines Bright

Megan Roth — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Remember the frightful events that occurred just last April at Virginia Tech? Of course you do - we all do. Thirty-three dead (including the gunman) and numerous others seriously injured. Granted, this wasn't the first school shooting to take place (nor will it be the last); it was, however, the deadliest shooting rampage in U.S. history, making it significant enough to cause the US Department of Justice to commission the National School Safety Center.

The NSSC was actually created in 1984 by a partnership between the US Department of Justice, the US Department of Education, and Pepperdine University. The purpose of this organization, which advocates safe, secure schools worldwide, is "to focus national attention on cooperative solutions to problems that disrupt the educational process."

After the massacre at Virginia Tech, the NSSC gave itself a new thematic focus: to prevent violence and other crimes on school campuses. In order to do this, the NSSC developed a campus safety and crisis management program for employees and students alike at college campuses around the nation.

The NSSC also has programs and resources aimed at improving student discipline and attendance and recognizes all levels of student achievement.

The organization is implementing its various programs nationwide and provides leadership training, site assessments, and technical assistance (as well as many other services and resources) in order to ensure safe environments on campuses around the nation.

As a result of its good intentions and positive steps forward, the NSSC is endorsed by many affiliate organizations and individuals. It truly is organization dedicated to working towards a "brighter today and a better tomorrow."

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Megan Roth

School Safety - Peanut treats and anaphylaxis shock

Steve Lombardi — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:15:00 GMT

Today, we discuss peanut allergies and what risks parents are exposed to when sending treats to school. You may think this is something "the other guy" faces but never a problem you will face.

In fact, food allergies are the leading cause of anaphylaxis and are responsible for between 150-200 non-hospital deaths each year.

Within the last month I've been contacted about this very situation and the "thousands of dollars of medical treatment" the child's parents faced to treat the affected child. The parents of the child who brought the snacks contacted me about their liability. In this situation it was a grandparent who baked the snack, gave it to the child to take to school for treat time. The child's parents were not aware the grandmother had baked the snack with peanuts.

This situation is a not far fetched and could happen to you. These parents, nice people and responsible parents, live in an apartment and did not have traditional premise liability insurance coverage to cover any costs they may have been liable to pay. Understandably they were concerned with their own liability. And rightly so. Grandmother should also be concerned and perhaps her homeowner's insurance policy would provide some coverage. The school, see Megan's article from today, should have insurance in place to cover their obligations to parents and students.

A peanut allergy isn't the only risk to be concerned. Diabetics pose risks as well with sugar treats.

So what should you as a parent do to protect yourself and your child from the risks of allergies with other students?

1. Exercise tight controls over what treats are sent to school.

2. When sending treats to school include a list of the ingredients.

3. At the beginning of the school year contact your insurance agent to determine if you have coverage for this type of risk.

4. If your child has any condition that poses a health risk with consuming treats, advise the teacher and administration office along with the school nurse. Do it in writing and repeat it the second semester. Fully explain the condition and how it is treated.

5. Educate the affected child about what he or she can and can not eat. Advise them if they are offered a treat without a list of ingredients to just say "No."

No one wishes this on anyone, nor do we as parents want to deal with any of this. But this is a real risk that you as parents need to address in a very direct and forthright manner.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

School Safety - Why snack-time can be scary... anaphylaxis and peanut allergies

Megan Roth — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 09:04:00 GMT

It is a well-known fact that peanut allergies are one of the most severe allergies an individual can have. In fact, food allergies are the leading cause of anaphylaxis and are responsible for between 150-200 non-hospital deaths each year.

Sufferers of such allergies must constantly be aware of their surroundings; they need to watch what they eat, what they touch, and even what their food touches. Seems excessive, I know, but so are the symptoms of such an allergy, which differ from the normal sneezy, stuffy allergies most of us have. Nut allergies are known to interrupt respiratory processes and can implicate other serious health problems as well.

The mast majority of us have been around (or at least heard of an incident) when someone has an allergic reaction to a nut. It's terrifying! What's scarier is that the number of children with peanut allergies is increasing. In these cases, parents must educate their children on how to avoid allergic reactions and what to do in the event that one occurs.

But what happens when such an event occurs on school premises? Who's responsible for the situation that ensues: is the school liable for using peanuts (or a by-product) when serving the students, or is the parent responsible for not taking the necessary steps to ensure that their child does not encounter the deadly substance under any circumstances?

This is a tough one, and (as always) it's dependent on the circumstances. First and foremost, the allergy should be known by both the student and the faculty. The more people who know about an allergy, the less likely an incident is to occur. That said, every school should be equipped with at least one staff member who is knowledgeable in how to treat the allergy. Because peanut allergies are common, it's preferable to have as many individuals as possible not only aware of the allergy, but also knowledgeable when it comes to its symptoms and treatments.

It's also important for both the school staff and the parents to take all steps possible to prevent such a reaction. However, in the event that it does occur, there should always be an emergency treatment plan.

Children with a nut allergy should always carry a shot of epinephrine (which is commonly used to overcome the results of an allergic reaction) and an antihistamine; similarly, all schools should carry a few of each. Though school cafeterias should always offer alternate options to foods containing peanuts (or processed on the same equipment), parents should also make efforts to send a lunch for the child so as to ensure the foods do not contain traces of peanuts.

As highlighted, nut allergies are severe. However, they are not so severe that they should limit a child's ability to live normally. When it comes right down to it, allergic reactions to such foods can easily be avoided by paying attention and informing all parties of the allergy.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Megan Roth

A Health-Issue Pushed to the Back

Megan Roth — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:58:00 GMT

As highlighted in my previous post, smoking is the number one health concern for adolescents. And rightfully so, given the statistics. But what about the less commonly thought of health issues - like heavy backpacks?

I know, I know - you're thinking a backpack isn't a health issue, right? WRONG. Did you know approximately 80% of Americans are affected by back pain at some point in their life. Now, there's certainly a wide range of causes for these issues; however, many are caused by simple mistreatment of the body.

One form of such mistreatment is a heavy backpack. A child's backpack should weigh no more than 10-20% of their total weight (ideally right around 10%). Placing any additional weight on a one's back can be considered a sort of low-level trauma and can actually cause an individual chronic neck and back pain.

Here's why: a child's spine is composed of 33 vertebrae, which are separated by discs (aka shock absorbers). When a backpack is too heavy, it can cause the child to overarch their back and compress their spine unnaturally. And as if that's not bad enough, heavy bags can also cause circulation and nerve damage (you know that feeling when your arm falls asleep? That tingling and weakness.not good to have on a regular basis) as the result of straps digging into one's shoulders.

In fact, in 2005, over 7000 school-aged children made trips to the hospital for back pain related to improperly placed and oversized bookbags.

So what can parents do to help prevent such pain? First, purchase backpacks with thick, padded straps. (Your son or daughter may not think these bags are as cool as that one-sided hot pink bag, but he/she may thank you years down the road.) Also, pack lightly and strategically. Place the heaviest items closest to the child's back and make sure the child wears the bag so it fits tightly against his back approximately two inches above the waist. And listen to your child - if he complains because his bag is too heavy or uncomfortable, it might be time to invest in a new one.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Megan Roth

He Said, She Said - Pink Color Choice Linked to Female Genetic Flaw

Steve Lombardi — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:48:26 GMT

Hmmm.... Chrissie, Chrissie, Chrissie, tssk, tsssk, we men demand equal time to comment about this alleged genetic flaw. After reading the title of your article I'm wondering if only a woman could write this? I've got to respond with the guy version. Your article is titled Commitment Phobias in Men Linked to Genetic Flaw. Really? A genetic flaw?

Most men would be reluctant to describe George Clooney's single lifestyle as a "genetic flaw". Pleeeaaasssse! Must we use science to explain everything about ourselves? To call George's lifestyle choice a genetic flaw is without a doubt cruel and unusual punishment of the highest order. NO guy in his right mind would use science to describe what we all know to be the case of a guy's lifestyle choice.

First of all stop trying to figure us out. You can't do it. God made it so you can't figure us out and we can't figure you out. It's all part of the natural order of the Universe. Any attempt to invoke scientific reasoning is flawed and woman will, like men, never figure us out. We just don't think the same. Period.

By scientifically concluding a relationship between man carrying a certain genetic variant, (known as allele, of the vasopressin receptor 1a gene, called 334 (AVPR1A)) and his scoring lower on the Partner Bonding Scale psychological test is way too simplistic. Maybe it's simply a matter of George just liking to be with the guys more than he wants to get married. Or maybe it's about not wanting to share the remote control. And then again perhaps it's about not wanting to explain where his next film will be and feeling badly about leaving his woman and child alone while he practices lines with some Hollywood starlet. Think about his profession and how long marriages last. If he got married and then got divorced wouldn't he be criticized as a womanizer? Of course he would. To attempt to describe George's choice of a single lifestyle in scientific terms is without a doubt, scientifically absurd.

Maybe he just doesn't want to marry because he looks around and doesn't like what he sees.

George Clooney quote about having kids

"I'm too wrapped up in my work to think about children, I would need to show myself that I'm able to sustain a good long-term relationship before I could even imagine what being a father would be like."

It seems to me the underlying premise is flawed. Must every man and woman be married? Now I married my high school sweetheart and she's my soul mate, but does everyone have one? Maybe yes and maybe no, but it doesn't stop most everyone from searching for them. And that's where science can never go, the soul. There is no gene to prove we have a soul but most everyone agrees it exists. Barbara and I think alike, is that a genetic issue or one of the soul? Do I need to know that answer to know that I love her? No.

George on Marriage - George Clooney on meeting women

"I'm the old-fashioned type who prefers to meet a woman in a more normal setting. I don't like to feel that I'm being hunted down. I've always liked to do my own hunting when it comes to meeting women."

You see us not figuring each other out is the natural way to get us to never stop chasing you and you us. It's about procreation and the survival of the planet.

It proves that God has a sense of humor.

Statistics show single men have a shorter life expectancy than married men.

Really?

Yeah, but, married men are more willing to die.

And then again maybe it's just simply about controlling the TiVo schedule. Now if you ask me, we should be studying female genes. For instance, what about the choice of the color pink? What's with that? Is that because of a pink gene? And shopping? Is there a shopping gene?

So leave our George out of it and let him remain single as long as he wishes. After all, he's probably doing some woman a favor.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Motorcyclist's "loss of control" may not be the cause of this wreck.

Steve Lombardi — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 10:28:45 GMT

Doctors refer to general diagnoses as "a waste-basket diagnosis", meaning the diagnosis is so general that it's meaningless. So when the Harrison County, Iowa officials list a loss of control as the cause of what killed a 49-year-old Omaha man after his motorcycle crashed it's pretty worthless.

KCAUTV reports that David Jeulfs of Omaha was driving his motorcycle two-miles south of Missouri Valley when "he lost control of it" and crashed into a concrete railroad embankment. Of course the reporting is what it is because of the cause listed by the Harrison County officials who investigated the accident. I'm not picking on their reporting. But what I am trying to do is to explain why lawyers don't find "loss of control" a sufficient explanation of the true cause of what caused Jeulfs to lose control. The passenger, Deborah Godek may be able to shed light on what actually caused Jeulfs' to initially lose control.

When lawyers, judges and juries evaluated fault and negligence they seek to know more about what caused the driver to initially lose control. It could be speed, drinking alcohol and the effects, a deer crossing, a gaggle of geese in the roadway, a dog chasing the bike, a pot-hole in the roadway, a grease spot or some other debris on the road's surface or a distraction caused by the passenger can all be "causes" of what caused the driver to "lose control".

Loss of control is an initial description or preliminary description that leads to further investigation to establish the true cause of the collision and resulting death.

Take for instance a second motorcycle collision-wreck in Henderson County, Iowa where a 52-year old Christopher Coates of Corydon, Iowa was killed. In this collision there is another vehicle, a pickup truck driven by an 85-year old gentleman from Galesburg. In this wreck it's reported the driver of the pickup truck turned left of center intending to make a left turn, but did so right in front of the motorcycle. The motorcycle driver lost control of the cycle as it slid into the pickup truck, causing his severe injuries and death and serious injury to the passenger of the motorcycle. It's correct to say the motorcycle driver lost control, but that's not the cause of the collision. The cause of the collision is the pickup truck turning left in front of the motorcycle, which causes him to lose control, and then leads to the crash. Going back one more step the pickup truck driver failing to see the motorcycle, a failure to use due care while driving, is the true cause. Speed could also be a factor along with other causes that influence vision and reaction times.

When a motorcyclist loses control it's easy to initially blame the driver, but that's unfair and wrong. You first have to examine all potential causes of what made the driver lose control in the first instance. We'll examine one more crash. KOLNKGIN.com reports of a Dixon County, Nebraska crash where a 49-year old woman died after crashing into a car. She obviously lost control but that is not the cause of the crash or negligent act that caused her to lose control. What happened on that Sunday afternoon on Highway 12 near Ponca is that a car on the left shoulder of the highway came out and attempted to turn right, causing the motorcycle to crash into it. The negligent act is not the motorcyclist losing control, but the attempt by the car driver to cross lines of traffic from the left to make a right turn.

So when you are analyzing fault or negligence don't stop short of the true cause. If there can't be a determination of the true cause, in cases where the driver is killed and there is not a witness and no other vehicle involved, the waste-basket cause may have to be the only determination. But when there is more, ask questions and analyze the other potential causes. Good luck with your case.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

September, on the InjuryBoard, is school safety month.

Steve Lombardi — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:11:09 GMT

During the month of September the InjuryBoard will focus on discussing school safety. Megan Roth from our office and in the Des Moines, Iowa market, will take the lead on blawg posts. Megan is a journalist living currently in New York. She writes well and will be covering quite a few subjects having to do with school safety including some of the following areas:

Peanuts in treats, bus rider safety, crossing guard rules, street crossing safety, science project safety and explosions, walking home, dress codes, food safety, bullying, backpack weight, cell phone use, iPod use, recognizing serious Columbine-type threats, locker privacy, gym excuses from the doctor, school nurse, staying after school, recognizing mental health issues, RX taken in school, playground equipment safety, playground equip maint, after school sports and school trips, show and tell, animals and pets to school, cheating on tests, drinking HOH, roller blading to school, cigarettes on school grounds, drugs and alcohol on school grounds, looking for your first job and getting bit by your Facebook drunken photos, etc.

Megan has done a great job of creating school safety posts and queuing them up on our Des Moines, Iowa market. I'll be adding my own posts but have a busy law schedule during the month of September, so my involvement will be less than normal. Because of my being in charge of hiring I'll have some commentary on what students face when employer's discovery their online admissions and photographs. For a look at what can bite you in the behind take a look at what happened to the President of Iowa Central when photographs surfaced. Needless to say, if Bob Paxton could take back that one moment he'd not be looking for a new job. Cell phones' being what they are and camera's getting smaller and smaller, you just never whose "friendly behavior" is not really your friend. And then again one person sends what seems like a harmless photo to one person who forwards it on to another and to another until finally it lands in disapproving hands. Remember the images of Larry Eustachy showing him during the early hours of January 23, 2003 with beer? "In several photos he's embracing and kissing women on the cheek or being kissed on the cheek." Or so said the Des Moines Register. Armed with 12 photographs the Register published a few and Larry was out as the ISU men's basketball coach. Here is what the ISU Athletic Director was reported to have said about the effect:

"ISU Athletic Director Bruce Van De Velde's Statement

"We expect all of our coaches to be good representatives of Iowa State University and to be good role models for our student-athletes. Obviously, we are disappointed with coach Eustachy's behavior that was reported in The Des Moines Register. This situation will be dealt with in an appropriate manner. Coach Eustachy knows that he made some very poor decisions and used bad judgment. He sincerely regrets his actions and the harm they have caused his university. We have made sure he understands his accountability and obligations as Iowa State's men's basketball coach, now and in the future.""

We can agree or disagree but ultimately the morals governing our employability may be a lot higher than our own. One moment on one occasion can make us unwanted for a particular job on any occasion. My focus will be more on some of these issues. So while Megan focus on the lower grades and women I'll focus on commentary including college life. You may wonder what this has to do with personal injury, well it does. In any personal injury case a claim for wage loss or reduced earning capacity can lead right back to explaining why you lost this job or worse yet can derail a current claim for wage benefits. We'll extend this discussion to the Lombardi Law Firm website, so check out The Verdict, as well. The Verdict format allows us to categorize our posts by subject.

We regularly read and comment about those IB blawgs from Lansing, Michigan, Austin, Texas and Chicago, Illinois. Mittleman, Glass, Schuelke and Avgerinos write thoughtful and insightful commentary. We don't always agree with what they say, but like us they comment about what we write in a way bringing different perspective to the discussion.

Be smart, be careful and always be thinking. It's a dangerous world out there.

We haven't yet decided on October's focus, but if you have something you'd like us to discuss drop us an email.

Welcome to the InjuryBoard and school safety.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Students Light Up

Megan Roth — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:45:00 GMT

It's a movement that has taken the nation by storm: we're in the middle of the ultimate attempt to rid all nicotine-craving-fiends from campuses and public places around the nation. Even entire cities have put a ban on smoking in public places (less the streets, of course).

Quite obviously, smoking is on our minds. And, in my most humble opinion, it's a quite legitimate concern.

According to the Mayo Clinic, nearly 90% of adult smokers fell into the habit before they turned 19-years old. We understand why most decided to start smoking (duh - it's cool), but why haven't they quit?

In addition to the obvious answer (that nicotine is highly addictive), smokers who begin tobacco use as adolescents are less inclined to quit because they became dependent on nicotine before their bodies were fully developed and it became like a dietary staple for them. So what makes us think the youth today will be any different?

To be honest - they're not. In fact, Dr. Daniel Rodriguez (who has done extensive research on this subject) claims, "most smoking initiation begins during adolescence." In fact, in that same report, the Mayo Clinic revealed that 23% of high school students and 10% of middle school students in the U.S. smoke on a regular basis.

These are just the 'regulars'; add to this the fact that between 80,000 and 100,000 kids around the world start smoking every day and, annually, approximately five million deaths result from tobacco use. Perhaps this explains why adults' number one health concern for adolescents is smoking.

Studies show that students who participate in organized high school activities are one-third less likely to begin smoking in high school. Even better: students who participate in sports have a decreased risk of starting to smoke even three years after completing high school.

Why? Two primary reasons: participation in sports increases an individual's self-confidence and makes them less likely to hang out with troublesome peers; thus, these individuals not only avoid situations in which smoking is present, but also have the willpower necessary to say no pressured to smoke.

Listen up, parents - I'm not saying to sign your kid up for every event imaginable; I am, however, encouraging you to consider the positive aspects certain activities may have. Maybe your kids don't want to participate? That's fine - I'm not encouraging you to force them.although, from what I've learned so far, sometimes coercion is key.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Megan Roth

Drugs and Alcohol in Schools

Megan Roth — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 12:36:00 GMT

"Approximately one-half of all high-school seniors in the U.S. admits to having used alcohol or illegal drugs during their high school years." Surprised? Don't be.

Alcohol and drug abuse are incredibly prevalent on school campuses across the nation and are affecting kids at younger ages than they have in the past. While I, myself have not taken issue with any illicit drugs (just meet me in person, you'll see my halo), I had classmates whose lives were town apart by drugs. I saw acquaintances arrested at high school sporting events, and I was present when a seventh grader had his stomach pumped after consuming more alcohol than a sumo wrestler could handle. Imagine - a seventh grader.he was just a child and he suffered from a binge-drinking experiment gone awry.

Unfortunately, this is part of the norm. In fact, middle-school aged children are among the most popular demographic to experiment with such substances. Why? Individuals in this age group aren't yet confident in themselves and it's difficult for them to say no because they don't want to be the odd-man-out. Students often reason: "everyone else is doing it, so why shouldn't I."

Well, truth be told, not everyone is doing it; unfortunately, however, a large number are. In fact, a 2006 survey found that 66.5% of high school seniors had consumed alcohol during the previous year and an astonishing 45.3% had used it within the previous month.

While the rates of usage seem alarmingly high (and for good reason - they are!), they have are actually down from years past. Similarly, the usage rates of illicit drugs have dropped. Though approximately 8% of high school seniors admit to having tried cocaine, there's been a .5% decline in in usage rates of this particular drug in the last year alone. In addition, the disapproval rate of experimenting with the drug has increased over a full percentage point (rising from 87.2% to 88.6% of students who openly oppose the substance).

The trends of usage in both alcohol and hard drugs make it clear that we, as a community, are doing something right. Ideally, there would be no students even considering use of any illegal substance; realistically, however, this isn't a possibility. All we can do is hope for the best and continue to inform students of the damaging effects such substances can have.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Megan Roth