Keeping New York Kids Safe: Youth Program Pitfalls to Avoid

As hundreds of thousands of New York children prepare to return to school, after-school programs, youth sports, and community activities, safety experts say parents often spend more time evaluating schedules, tuition, and convenience than asking the questions most likely to reveal whether a program is truly prepared to protect their children when something goes wrong.

Sports and recreational activities account for approximately 55% of nonfatal injuries sustained in schools and youth programs, while nearly 62% of organized youth sports injuries occur during practices rather than games, underscoring that risk often exists during routine activities, not just competition.

According to New York personal injury attorney Kate Henderson of Lever & Ecker, PLLC, a program's true commitment to safety is not reflected in its marketing materials or social media presence. It is demonstrated by how staff prepare for emergencies, supervise children, communicate with families, and improve procedures after an incident occurs.

"After an injury, we often discover there were warning signs long before the incident happened," Henderson says. "Parents simply weren't asking the questions that reveal whether safety is genuinely part of a program's culture."

Before enrolling a child, Henderson recommends asking two simple but revealing questions:

1. "Tell me about an injury that occurred here. Walk me through exactly how it was handled from beginning to end."
2. "After that incident, what specific safety protocol did your organization change, and who was involved in reviewing what happened?"

She says thoughtful answers to those questions often reveal more than any brochure or facility tour ever could.

Additional areas parents should evaluate include:

• Supervision Standards: Ask about adult-to-child ratios, particularly during field trips, swimming activities, and other higher-risk events.
• Staff Qualifications: Confirm whether employees and volunteers undergo background checks and whether CPR and First Aid certification are required and kept current.
• Emergency Response: Understand how medical emergencies, allergic reactions, and injuries are handled, including when 911 is called, when parents are notified, and who makes those decisions.
• Transportation & Off-Site Safety: Ask about driver qualifications, seatbelt enforcement, headcount procedures, and protocols if a child becomes separated from the group.
• Facility Security: Learn how visitors are screened, how children are released only to authorized adults, and what reunification plans exist during emergencies.
• Continuous Improvement: Determine whether incidents are formally reviewed, documented, and used to strengthen future safety procedures.

Examples of questions parents should consider asking before enrolling their child include:

• What are your staff-to-child supervision ratios, and do they change during higher-risk activities such as swimming, field trips, or off-site events?
• How are headcounts conducted throughout the day, and who is responsible for ensuring every child is accounted for?
• What background screening is required for employees and volunteers? Are all staff members certified in CPR and First Aid, and what are your drop-off and pick-up security procedures?
• How are allergies, medications, and other medical needs managed? Under what circumstances is 911 contacted before parents are notified?
• How often are emergency drills conducted, what reunification procedures are in place, and how is access to the facility controlled during the day?
• For off-site activities, what training do drivers receive, are seatbelts required and enforced, and what protocols are followed if a child becomes separated from the group?

"No organization can eliminate every risk," Henderson says. "But parents should expect transparency, accountability, and evidence that safety is continuously evaluated and improved. The willingness to answer detailed questions openly is often one of the strongest indicators of a well-managed program."

By taking a few extra minutes to ask thoughtful questions before enrollment, families can gain a clearer understanding of whether a program is prepared not only to provide enriching experiences, but also to respond effectively when the unexpected occurs.

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Sources:

• Safe Kids Worldwide / Safe Kids Injury Facts: https://www.safekidsyorkcounty.org/fact-sheets/Sports%20facts.pdf
• Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) / Aspen Institute Youth Sports Injury Data: https://projectplay.org/youth-sports/facts/challenges