A series of studies have considered the risk for child and adolescent injury created by inadequate sleep. We have demonstrated links between inadequate sleep and injury risk both among healthy youth who are deprived of sleep and among youth with sleep disorders.

Sample Publications

• Avis, K. T., Gamble, K. L., & Schwebel, D. C. (2019). Effect of positive airway pressure therapy in children with OSAS: Does PAP use reduce pedestrian injury risk? Sleep Health, 5, 161-165.
• Avis, K. T., Gamble, K. L., & Schwebel, D. C. (2015). Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) increases pedestrian injury risk in children. Journal of Pediatrics, 166, 109-114.
• Avis, K. T., Gamble, K. L., & Schwebel, D. C. (2014). Does excessive daytime sleepiness affect children’s pedestrian safety? Sleep, 37, 283-287.
• Davis, A. L., Avis, K. T., & Schwebel, D. C. (2013). The effects of sleep restriction on adolescents’ pedestrian safety in a virtual environment. Journal of Adolescent Health, 53, 785-790.

Drowning is a leading killer of children. We have written mostly about adult supervision, both by parents and lifeguards. Lifeguarding is tough work. Whether parents or professionals, lifeguards sit in hot temperatures, watch repetitive and rather boring behavior for long periods of time, and must identify very rare events — drownings — quickly and accurately to save lives. We have developed, evaluated, and implemented strategies to improve lifeguard surveillance and attention, which in turn increases safety in public swimming areas.

Sample Publications

• Schwebel, D. C., Ramos, W., Gilchrist, J., & Dixon, C. A. (2023). Expanding the concept of caregiver supervision to prevent child drowning. Pediatrics, 151, e2022060240.
• Schwebel, D. C., Jones, H. N., Holder, E., & Marciani, F. (2011). The influence of simulated drowning audits on lifeguard surveillance and swimmer risk-taking behaviors at public swimming pools. International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education, 5, 210-218.
• Schwebel, D. C., Lindsay, S., & Simpson, J. (2007). Brief report: A brief intervention to improve lifeguard surveillance at a public swimming pool. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 32, 862-868.

ADHD is associated with poor attention and concentration, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Not surprisingly, it is also associated with increased risk of child injury. We’ve investigated why: what aspects of ADHD increase children’s risk of injury? Our studies suggest risk factors may change as children get older. Among younger children, oppositionality — poor compliance to rules and directives — may play an important role. As children get older, the more classic symptoms of ADHD — impulsivity and inattention — seem to create greater risk.

Sample Publications

• Stavrinos, D., Biasini, F. J., Fine, P. R., Hodgens, J. B., Khatri, S., Mrug, S., & Schwebel, D. C. (2011). Mediating factors associated with pedestrian injury in children with ADHD. Pediatrics, 128, 296-302.
• Schwebel, D. C., Tavares, C. L., Lucas, E. K., Bowling, E. B., & Hodgens, J. B. (2007). Unintentional injury risk in children with externalizing behavior disorders at summer camp. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 14, 145-151.
• Schwebel, D. C., Hodgens, J. B., & Sterling, S. (2006). How mothers parent their children with behavior disorders: Implications for unintentional injury risk. Journal of Safety Research, 37, 167-173.
• Schwebel, D. C., Speltz, M. L., Jones, K., & Bardina, P. (2002). Unintentional injury in preschool boys with and without early onset of disruptive behavior. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 27, 727-737.

About 70% of injuries at preschools happen on the playground, but recess is the time when teachers usually become less involved and less aware of children’s activities. We developed the “Stamp-in-Safety” program to improve teacher supervision of children on preschool playgrounds, and evaluated it in a series of studies. The program is effective.

Sample Publications

• Schwebel, D. C., Pennefather, J., Marquez, B., & Marquez, J. (2015). Internet-based training to improve preschool playground safety: Evaluation of the Stamp-in-Safety program. Health Education Journal, 74, 37-45.
• Chelvakumar, G., Sheehan, K., Hill, A. L., Lowe, D., Mandich, N., & Schwebel, D. C. (2010). An evaluation of the Stamp-in-Safety program, an intervention to promote safer playground behavior in children. Injury Prevention, 16, 352-354.
• Schwebel, D. C., Summerlin, A. L., Bounds, M. L., & Morrongiello, B. A. (2006). The Stamp-in-Safety program: A behavioral intervention to reduce behaviors that can lead to unintentional playground injury in a preschool setting. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 31, 152-162.