‘Have a hmmm’ these school holidays

During last year’s school holidays, we received almost 70,000 claims from school-aged children (five to 18-year-olds), costing $34.8 million to support their recovery and get them back to school, sport and everyday life.

The cause of these injuries vary, but the message remains the same, says ACC injury prevention leader James Whitaker.

“These injuries are preventable.

“Whether you’re playing with mates, riding your bike, kicking the ball around in the backyard, or playfighting with your siblings – most of these injuries can be prevented if we just slow down and take a minute to think things through.”

The lead up to the end of the school term is always a busy one, everyone has worked hard and deserves a good break, says Whitaker.

“I know myself, as a parent to three daughters, you often reach the end of the term totally exhausted.”

Although it can be tempting to pack up the car and head off on a family adventure straight away to make the most of your holidays, it’s important to stop and think about the risk of injury first, says Whitaker.

“If it’s been a particularly busy period, there’s no harm in taking it easy for the first couple of days to allow yourself some time to recharge to be able to gear up and go again.

“The whole family will benefit if everyone’s a little less tired and more ready for the adventure as well.”

Having a staycation?

If you’re staying at home these school holidays, it’s still important to ‘have a hmmm’ at home.

Around 50 percent of injuries take place at home, making these injuries a significant contributor to overall harm, says Whitaker.

Last year, 37,000 home injuries resulted in 6.4 million days of weekly compensation and $2.7 billion in lost productivity, costing the scheme $934 million.  

“Falls are the leading cause of injury in the home, often occurring during routine activities like getting in and out of bed, going up or down stairs, or slipping on bathroom tiles.”

The rate of home-based injuries when compared to activities generally perceived as being more dangerous often surprises people, says Whitaker.

“We spend a lot of time at home and are probably more laid back than we might be in an outdoor, school, or work environment,” he says. 

“As we make switch into holiday mode, it’s worth taking a moment to ‘have a hmmm’ to ensure you can enjoy the break safely.

“Don’t spoil your break with a strain, sprain, or, even worse, a trip to the emergency department.”

Have a hmmm hints for home

• Take your time and ‘have a hmmm’ before you get stuck into tasks or activities
• Remove any trip hazards lying around the house
• Use step ladders safely
• Look out for slippery surfaces
• Put tools and equipment away when you’re not using them
• If you have young children, make sure balconies have a solid safety barrier that children can't climb and have safety catches on windows, as well as cupboards and drawers that hold dangerous items

School holiday injuries for school-aged children (five to 18 years)

• 2025 Term 1 Holiday, 11,935 claims,  $7.1M
• 2025 Term 2 Holiday, 11,460 claims, $6.9M
• 2025 Term 3 Holiday, 18,251 claims, $8.9M
• 2025 Term 4 / Summer Holiday, 25,674 claims, $11.9M

Prevalent primary injury site during 2025 school holidays

• Knee (6,500)
• Ankle (6,379)
• Face (5,467)
• Finger / Thumb (5,271)
• Hand / Wrist (5,138)

Prevalent primary injury diagnosis during 2025 school holidays

• Soft Tissue Injury (35,379)
• Laceration / Puncture / Sting (13,929)
• Fracture / Dislocation (7,301)
• Dental Injury (2,731)
• Concussion (1,254)

Prevalent accident prior activity during 2025 school holidays

• Recreation / Sporting Activity (26,033)
• Walking / Running (5,286)
• Children Playing (4,857)
• Driving / Riding (2,223)
• Getting on / Off or In / Out of (1,511)
• Ascending / Descending (1,151)
• Using / Operating (not Machine) (824)
• Lifting / Lowering / Loading / Unloading (710)
• Employment Tasks (624)
• Fighting (534)

Accident region data for 2025 school holidays

• Auckland (22,355)
• Canterbury (8,092)
• Waikato (7,431)
• Bay of Plenty (5,245)
• Wellington (4,814)
• Otago (3,883)
• Northland (3,077)
• Manawatū-Whanganui (2,935)
• Hawke’s Bay (2,573)
• Taranaki (1,631)