If it just happened
Emergency? Call 911- 1Make sure the student and other students are safe and supervised. Call for help from another adult.
- 2Call 911 for serious injuries to anyone, including a head injury, severe pain, or numbness.
- 3Tell your administrator, supervisor or school nurse as soon as you can.
- 4Report your own injury in writing using your school or district's process. Keep a copy.
- 5Write down the time, place, what you were doing (lifting, transferring, restraining, catching), and other adults who were there. Use initials or general terms for students, following your school's privacy rules.
- 6Note whether lift equipment, a second adult, or training for the task was available.
- 7Get evaluated by a clinician.
General information only — not medical or legal advice.
Reporting it and the claim process
Schools often have more than one report: an incident or behavior report about the student, and a separate employee injury report about you. Make sure the employee injury report is filed — the student report may not count as yours.
Describe what happened physically: a lift from a wheelchair to a changing table, a student pulling away, a twist while catching a fall, a kick or hit during a restraint. Keep the focus on the facts of your injury.
Public school districts sometimes have their own procedures and timelines. Deadlines to report and file vary by state. Check with your district and your state's workers' compensation agency as soon as possible. If you're in a union, your representative may help.
Keep copies of your report, any district forms, visit records and a log of missed days.
Getting medical care
Ask your district where injured employees should be seen; some have a designated clinic. Some states and employers have rules about which provider you see first. For emergencies, go to the nearest emergency care.
Tell the clinician you were hurt lifting or restraining a student at work and describe the movement. Care may involve occupational medicine, spine care, orthopedics, physical therapy or chiropractic care. A licensed clinician decides what is appropriate after an evaluation.
If you're prescribed medication, ask the pharmacy and adjuster how work-injury prescriptions are handled. Many can be filled locally or delivered to your home.
Prescribed medication? Learn about prescription home delivery, common medications after work injuries, or find pharmacies near you. Your doctor and pharmacist decide what is right for you.
When people often talk to an attorney
- Your back or shoulder injury keeps you from returning to the classroom.
- Your claim is denied or delayed, or you're told the injury was from outside work.
- You were asked to lift or restrain students without equipment, help or training.
- You're treated differently after reporting.
- There are disputes about specialist care or therapy.
- You have emotional effects after a crisis incident and your claim doesn't address them.
Learn more: what a workers' comp attorney does. Many offer a free first consultation; fees in workers' comp are often regulated by the state.
Recovery and going back to work
Follow your care plan and do your therapy exercises. Back and shoulder injuries can take time.
Ask your doctor for written restrictions on lifting, transfers and restraints. Ask your district about a temporary change in duties or classroom support.
Crisis incidents can be stressful. Tell your clinician if you feel anxious about returning. Keep your administrator and adjuster updated.
Questions to ask
- Administrator: Does the student incident report count as my injury report, or do I need to file separately?
- Administrator: Can I have lift equipment or a second adult for transfers?
- Administrator: Is there a temporary assignment that fits my restrictions?
- Doctor: What should I avoid at work while my back or shoulder heals?
- Adjuster: What is my claim number, and where should I be seen?
- Union representative: What district procedures apply to my injury?
- Attorney: I was asked to do restraints without training. Does that matter?
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if I was hurt lifting or restraining a student?
Make sure students are safe, tell your administrator and report your own injury in writing. Get evaluated by a clinician. Call 911 for serious injuries.
Are teachers and aides covered by workers' comp?
School employees are often covered, but it depends on your state and district. Public districts may have their own procedures. Check with your district and your state's agency.
Is the student incident report the same as my injury report?
Often not. A student incident report describes the event, while an employee injury report covers your injury. File both if your district requires it.
What if I was hurt during a student restraint?
Report it in writing and describe the movement that caused your injury. Note the training and support you had. Injuries during restraints are often handled like other work injuries.
Can I see my own doctor after being hurt at school?
It depends on your state and district, since some require a designated provider first. Ask your district or adjuster. In an emergency, go to the nearest emergency care.
Can I get help with stress after a crisis incident at school?
Yes, you can ask your clinician for a referral and ask your district about employee assistance programs. Whether a claim covers it varies by state. If you have thoughts of self-harm, call or text 988.
Related situations
Industries where this often happens
Prescriptions.plus is an educational portal. We are not a pharmacy, law firm, medical provider, insurer or claims administrator, and nothing here is medical or legal advice. Educational purposes only. Workers' compensation rules and deadlines vary by state — check with your state's workers' compensation agency. Medical emergency? Call 911. Hurt outside of work? Personal-injury legal help: attorneys.plus (coming soon).