Nonparticipant injuries associated with skating activities

Area of Science:

• Pediatric emergency medicine
• Injury epidemiology
• Recreational safety

Background:

• Children are vulnerable to injuries even when not actively participating in recreational activities.
• Nonparticipant injuries represent a significant public health concern, particularly in dynamic environments like skating rinks or parks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the epidemiology of pediatric nonparticipant skating-related injuries.
• To identify injury mechanisms, affected body regions, and diagnoses in children treated in emergency departments.

Main Methods:

• Review of injury narratives from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS).
• Analysis of injuries coded as ice-skating, roller-skating, and in-line skating-related from 1993 to 2003.
• Statistical analysis to determine injury mechanisms and associated risks.

Main Results:

• Fifty-eight nonparticipant skating-related injuries were treated in emergency departments.
• Common injury mechanisms included being stepped on (36.2%), dropped (34.5%), kicked (12.1%), or collision with skaters (17.2%).
• Lower extremities (41.4%), upper extremities (24.1%), and head (20.7%) were most frequently injured; contusions/abrasions, lacerations, and fractures were common diagnoses.

Conclusions:

• Children are at risk of injury when near skaters, even as nonparticipants.
• Preventive measures include avoiding carrying children, close supervision of young children to prevent collisions, and cautioning skaters against stepping on or kicking others.