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[Home accidents involving children. An epidemiologic investigation]
B E Lindblad1, C J Terkelsen, L N Lindblad
1Arhus Amtssygehus, ortopaedkirurgisk afdeling.
Insights
Product-related domestic accidents are common in young children, especially boys and one-year-olds. Key risks include household items, tools, furniture, and vehicles, with alarming injury rates to hands, fingers, face, and head.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric safety
- Public health
- Accident prevention
Abstract:
During a period of 1 year, 1,590 product-related domestic accidents among 0-15 year-olds were registered prospectively at the casualty wards of Aarhus County Hospital and Randers Central Hospital. This registration was carried out as a part of the Danish participation in the E.E.C.'s pilot project. A significant predominance of boys and a larger frequency of accidents in boys was discovered; the sex ratio girl/boy being 1:1.6. The frequency of accidents was high among the one year olds. The greatest number of accidents was demonstrated to occur during weekends and in the months of April, May and August. An accumulation of accidents (48%) among a few main groups of products was discovered; constructional features of the house, do-it-yourself tools, furniture, toy- and sports equipment and vehicles for baby and child transport. Dangerous accidents in the age group 0-4 years were caused by hot objects, chemicals and kitchen utensils. Most of the lesions were localized to the hands and fingers (31%) and the face and head (30%), which is alarming.