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Recent Research and Reports
TV Tipovers: A study from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center looked at 26 children injured by a falling television. The median age was 40 months. None of the televisions, or the furniture that they were placed on, had been secured. Most of the parents (85 percent) were unaware that injuries could occur by this mechanism. Fourteen children suffered head injuries. Nine were hospitalized, including two who were admitted to the intensive care unit.The researchers identified a lack of parental awareness and lack of the necessary precautions. They recommended more warnings to parents to promote safe placement of televisions.
Childhood Injuries Caused by Falling Televisions. FS Ota et al. Academic Emergency Medicine. published online April 26, 2006.
Heelys: A Singapore study examined injuries sustained by children using Heelys, a type of shoe with stealth wheels extremely popular among children in that country. From February to August 2004, a total of 37 patients with significant injuries sustained while "heeling" were identified. Upper limb injuries were by far the most common. None of the children used safety gear. The researchers concluded that "heeling" can lead to serious injuries despite their relatively low speed. Children and their parents need to be educated on the use of safety gear.
Heelys injuries in children. D Oh et al. Singapore Medical Journal, 2006; 47(5): 373-5. May 2006.
Dogs and Infants in Swings: The Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Maryland examined three fatal dog maulings of infants placed in mobile infant swings. In each case, the victim (two aged 18 days, one aged three months) was left in a mobile swing, unsupervised by an adult, and the attacking dog was a family pet. The dogs were: a pit bull, a Chow Chow and/or a Dachshund, and a Labrador-pit bull mix. These cases underscore the importance of not leaving young children unattended around pet dogs, and raise the possibility that mobile swings may trigger a predatory response in dogs.
Fatal dog maulings associated with infant swings. AY Chu et al. Journal of Forensic Science 2006; 51(2): 403-6. March 2006.
Dogs and Kids: Austrian researchers reviewed data from 1994 to 2003 on 341 children (mean age: 5.9 years) who sought medical attention after a dog bite. The incidence was highest in one-year-olds and decreased with age. A German Shepherd or a Doberman was five times more likely to attack than a Labrador/retriever or cross-breed. Most (82 percent) of the dogs were familiar to the children. In half of the cases, bites were to the face, head, and neck. Children under 10 years old were the high-risk group. The researchers recommended that prevention strategies focus on public education and training of dogs and their owners.
Analysis of dog bites in children who are younger than 17 years. J Schalamon et al.
Pediatrics Vol. 117 No. 3, pp. e374-e379. March 2006.
Enforcement: Researchers in Fresno, California have shown that aggressive traffic enforcement reduces motor vehicle crashes (MVCs), fatalities and injury severity. In 2003, the City of Fresno established a vigorous enforcement program using increased traffic patrol officers. Data on citations, collisions, fatal collisions, and injury severity were compared for 2002 through 2004. The number of citations rose, while MVCs, injury collisions, and fatalities went down significantly. There were also fewer admissions from MVCs, fewer patients with moderate injury severity, and a decrease in hospital length of stay for all MVC victims. These changes were not seen outside the area of increased enforcement.
Aggressive traffic enforcement: a simple and effective injury prevention program. JW Davis et al. Journal of Trauma 2006; 60(5): 972-7. May 2006.
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Safety Canada
(July 2006) |
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