体育活動の事故 安全対策徹底し子供の命守れ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 7, 2012)
Ensure children's safety in school PE activities
体育活動の事故　安全対策徹底し子供の命守れ（8月6日付・読売社説）

There seems to be no end to the tragic loss of children's lives in physical education activities at school.
　学校の体育活動で、子供の命が失われる悲劇が後を絶たない。

Over a 12-year period ending in fiscal 2009, 470 students lost their lives due to accidents during PE or club activities. In the same period, 120 students suffered injuries that resulted in serious disabilities, according to a report compiled by a panel of experts at the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry.
　文部科学省の有識者会議がまとめた報告書によると、２００９年度までの１２年間に、体育の授業や部活動の事故で死亡した児童・生徒は４７０人、重度の障害を負った子も１２０人を数えた。

The number of these incidents has been declining, but accidents leading to fatal injuries of children must not be allowed to happen at all at school, a place where children should be safe. It is only reasonable that the panel in its report made a renewed call to schools to reexamine their safety measures.
　こうした事故の件数そのものは減少傾向にある。だが、本来、学校は安全な場であり、子供の生命にかかわる事故が起きることはあってはならない。報告書が改めて、安全対策の再点検を学校現場に求めたのは当然のことだ。

Sudden deaths account for more than 70 percent of fatal incidents involving students at schools, particularly in such sports as basketball and running. Most reported sudden deaths occurred when students collapsed during long-distance runs or relays and suffered cardiac arrest.
　死亡事故の７割以上を占めるのが突然死だ。陸上競技やバスケットボールなどで目立つ。持久走やリレーの練習中に倒れ、心肺停止になる例が報告されている。

===

Previous illnesses a factor

Twenty percent of children who died suddenly reportedly had illnesses such as heart disease. If instructors had paid extra attention to such students, fatal incidents could have been avoided.
　突然死した子の２割は心臓疾患などの既往症があった。指導者が注意していれば、事故を防げた可能性がある。

It is important for teachers, parents and family doctors to cooperate to grasp the health condition of children.
教師や保護者、主治医が連携し、子供の健康状態を把握しておくことが重要である。

Countermeasures against heatstroke are also necessary.
　熱中症対策も忘れてはならない。

Due to scorching heat this summer, many students have collapsed during their club activities in the summer recess. To prevent such incidents, it is essential to have students take in an adequate amount of water and salt and take breaks. On extremely hot days, vigorous exercise should be avoided.
今年は猛暑で、夏休みの部活動中に生徒が倒れるケースが相次いでいる。水分や塩分の補給、適度な休憩、さらに、猛暑の日は激しい運動を控えるようにするなど、予防措置が欠かせない。

The report also referred to the danger of brain damage. In particular, such sports as judo and rugby--in which players often come into violent contact with each other--are risky. A shock to the head can tear a vein between the skull and the brain, resulting in a hemorrhage.
　報告書は脳損傷の危険にも言及している。生徒同士が体を接触させる柔道やラグビーなどのスポーツでは、特に危険を伴う。頭部が激しく揺さぶられると、頭蓋骨と脳との間にずれが生じ、静脈が破断することもあるという。

It is important for instructors to acquire adequate medical knowledge and promptly seek an examination at medical institutions if they see any abnormal changes in their students.
　指導者は、必要な医学知識を習得し、生徒に少しでも異変があれば、すぐに医療機関に診断を求めることが大切だ。

===

Martial arts required

From this fiscal year, students will be required to study a martial art as part of PE classes at middle school, with 64 percent of the nation's schools opting for judo. Many of these schools will launch their martial arts class this autumn or later. Female students are also required to take martial arts classes. Extreme attention must be paid to implementing proper safety measures.
　今年度から中学の体育で武道が必修化され、全国の学校の６４％が柔道を選択した。その多くが秋以降に授業を開始する。女子も対象になる。安全対策に細心の注意が必要である。

The number of serious injuries and deaths among first-year middle and high school students during judo club activities is particularly high.
　部活動中の柔道の死亡・重症事故では、中学１年と高校１年の件数が突出している。

Attention must be paid to accidents involving beginners of judo who have yet to learn how to fall properly. PE teachers must take a safety-first approach to prevent head and neck injuries.
受け身を体得していない初心者の事故が多いことを注視したい。
　生徒の頭や首を傷つけないよう体育教師に安全最優先の指導法を身に着けさせねばならない。

An education ministry survey revealed that as of the end of April there were about 800 schools whose facilities for judo classes were not safe.
　柔道施設の安全が確保されていない学校が、４月末時点で約８００校にも上ったという文科省の調査結果もある。

Local boards of education must strictly monitor the readiness of schools to introduce judo classes, and schools that are not prepared should not be allowed to start the classes.
　教育委員会は準備状況を継続的にチェックし、態勢が整わない学校では柔道の授業開始を許さない厳しい姿勢で臨むべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 6, 2012)
（2012年8月6日01時22分  読売新聞）