Abstract

This study evaluated the knowledge of middle school students about the safety measures taken to prevent school accidents. The study sample population consisted of 243 6th, 7th and 8th grades students attending 5 different primary schools located in Çankaya, Gölbaşı and Mamak Districts of Ankara Province, the capital city of Turkey. The study data was collected using a questionnaire developed on the basis of the “Scale of Student Knowledge on Safety Measures Taken to Prevent School Accidents” was administered to the participant students. In the scope of the study, statistical techniques such as arithmetic mean, standard deviation, Chi-square test, t test and variance analysis as well as frequency and percentage distribution were used. The study results revealed a statistically significant relationship between the annual accident frequency of a student and her/his grade and monthly household income. Among the students, the most popular safety measure taken to prevent school accidents was found to be “On time repair of school building parts that need to be repaired” and the least popular to be “Plastic cover should not be used to cover a power socket”. In addition, student knowledge of the safety measures related to school accidents differed according to previous accident experience, grade and household income.