This Article  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in JAMA  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Bill C. DeMoss, MD
Tolleson, Ariz

JAMA. 1995;273(1):23-24.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.

—We must all make sure that our schools are providing a safe environment in which to get an education. Within the last year I have treated many children who are victims of school violence. These children suffered stab wounds to the back, marks on the neck, black eyes, split lips, loosened teeth, bloody noses, facial pain, razor lacerations, and bruises of the gums and face, not to mention the psychological trauma of assault. Children should not have to risk their lives when they attend school in pursuit of an education.

I have found that if I routinely inquire about violence during periodic screening assessments, using nonthreatening questions, I can detect problems and take preventive action (ie, document and report violent behavior) before a disaster occurs.

During my early preventive screening diagnosis and treatment visits, I ask a series of questions to open the door to the subject . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?