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Throw rug-related injuries treated in US EDs: are children the same as adults?

Zlata Vlodaver1, Henry W Ortega1, Joseph Arms1

  • 1Emergency Services, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, 2525 Chicago Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN, 55404, USA.

The American Journal of Emergency Medicine
|October 9, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Rug-related injuries are a significant cause of emergency room visits, particularly affecting older adults and young children. These incidents often involve tripping or slipping, with specific locations like kitchens and bathrooms increasing hospitalization risk.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Injury Prevention

Background:

  • Floor coverings like rugs are recognized hazards contributing to injuries.
  • Loose carpeting is frequently identified as a common cause of falls and subsequent harm.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the epidemiology and common patterns of injuries associated with rugs, mats, and runners.
  • To analyze data from emergency department visits related to floor covering incidents.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) spanning 1990-2009.
  • Calculated national injury estimates using sample weights and injury rates per 100,000 individuals via US Census Bureau data.
  • Employed linear regression and relative risk (RR) calculations with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for statistical analysis.

Main Results:

  • An estimated 245,605 rug-related injuries were treated in US emergency departments (avg. 12,280/year).
  • Females (72.3%) and individuals over 64 years (47.1%) comprised the majority of injured patients.
  • Young children (<6 years) were more prone to head/neck injuries (RR 3.52), while older adults (>18 years) had higher risks of fractures/dislocations (RR 2.52) and tripping (RR 1.36).
  • Increasing age correlated with higher hospitalization risk; injuries from rubber/plastic mats showed lower admission rates (RR 0.67), whereas kitchen/bathroom incidents had higher rates (RR 1.45).

Conclusions:

  • Rug-associated injuries represent a substantial public health concern across all age demographics.
  • Understanding injury patterns and risk factors is crucial for developing targeted prevention strategies.
Abstract

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