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Incidence and description of stroller-related injuries to children
Elizabeth C Powell1, Edward Jovtis, Robert R Tanz
1Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Children's Memorial Hospital, and the Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60614, USA. epowell@northwestern.edu
Insights
Stroller injuries are common in young children, often caused by falls. Using stroller restraints could prevent many of these injuries.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Safety
- Injury Prevention
- Consumer Product Safety
Background:
- Stroller-related injuries represent a significant public health concern for young children.
- Understanding the epidemiology of these injuries is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence and circumstances of stroller-related injuries in US children.
- To identify the types of injuries and demographic factors associated with stroller incidents.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of data was conducted using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS).
- The study analyzed injuries to children 3 years old and younger treated in US hospital emergency departments from 1994 to 1998.
Main Results:
- An estimated 64,373 stroller-related injuries occurred during the study period.
- Falls from the stroller accounted for 76% of injuries, with the head and face being the most commonly affected areas.
- Head trauma was the primary reason for hospitalization, occurring in 70% of admitted cases.
Conclusions:
- Stroller injuries are frequent, especially in infants.
- Falls from strollers are the leading cause of injury, highlighting the importance of safety restraints.
- Implementing and enforcing the use of stroller restraints can significantly reduce injury rates.
Objective:
To describe the incidence, circumstances, and types of stroller-related injuries among US children.
Design:
Retrospective review of data for children 3 years old and younger from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System of the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission for 1994-1998.
Results:
There were an estimated 64 373 stroller-related injuries (95% confidence interval [CI]: 49 223-79 514) to children 3 years old and younger treated in hospital emergency departments in the United States during the 5-year study period. The median age at the time of the injury was 11 months; 51% were males. The annual rate of injury among children <1 year old was 184.4 per 100 000. Seventy-six percent of injuries resulted from a fall from the stroller. A motor vehicle was involved in <1% of cases. Most injuries involved the head (44%) or face (43%). Injury diagnoses included contusions or abrasions (38%), lacerations (24%), closed head injury (22%), and extremity fractures (3%). Two percent of injured children, an estimated 992 (95% CI: 428-1556), were admitted to the hospital during the study period, an annual admission rate of 1.3 per 100 000. Seventy percent of admissions were for head trauma.
Conclusions:
Injuries related to strollers are common, particularly among children in the first year of life. They often result from falls from the stroller. The data suggest that restraint use would prevent many stroller-related injuries.