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Nursery Product-Related Injuries Treated in United States Emergency Departments
Christopher E Gaw1,2, Thiphalak Chounthirath1, Gary A Smith3,4,5
1Center for Injury Research and Policy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.
Insights
Nursery product injuries in young children decreased until 2003 but have risen since, with falls and head injuries being common. Increased prevention efforts are needed for baby carriers, cribs, and strollers.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Safety
- Public Health
- Injury Epidemiology
Background:
- Nursery products are essential for child care but can pose injury risks.
- Understanding injury trends is crucial for effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the epidemiology of injuries associated with nursery products among children under 3 years old treated in US emergency departments.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS).
- Inclusion of patients aged <3 years with nursery product-related injuries from 1991-2011.
Main Results:
- Over 1.39 million nursery product-related injuries were treated in US emergency departments between 1991 and 2011.
- Injury rates declined until 2003, then increased, driven by baby walker injuries initially and later by concussions/closed head injuries.
- Baby carriers, cribs/mattresses, strollers/carriages, and baby walkers were the most common product associations; falls were the primary mechanism, with head/neck injuries being most frequent.
Conclusions:
- While baby walker injuries decreased, overall nursery product injuries have risen since 2003.
- Enhanced prevention efforts are necessary for baby carriers, cribs, and strollers.
- Focusing on preventing falls and head injuries associated with nursery products is critical.
Objective:
The goal of this study was to determine the epidemiology of injuries associated with nursery products among young children treated in US emergency departments.
Methods:
Data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System were retrospectively analyzed for patients aged <3 years who sustained an injury associated with a nursery product from 1991 through 2011.
Results:
An estimated 1 391 844 (95% confidence interval, 1 169 489-1 614 199) nursery product-related injuries among children aged <3 years were treated in US emergency departments during the 21-year study period, averaging 56.29 injuries per 10 000 children. The annual injury rate decreased significantly by 33.9% from 1991 to 2003, followed by a significant increase of 23.7% from 2003 to 2011. The decrease was driven by a significant decline in baby walker/jumper/exerciser-related injuries; the increase was driven by a significant increase in concussions and closed head injuries. Nursery product-related injuries were most commonly associated with baby carriers (19.5%), cribs/mattresses (18.6%), strollers/carriages (16.5%), or baby walkers/jumpers/exercisers (16.2%). The most common mechanism of injury was a self-precipitated fall (80.0%), and the most frequently injured body region was the head or neck (47.1%).
Conclusions:
Although successful injury prevention efforts with baby walkers led to a decline in nursery product-related injuries from 1991 to 2003, the number and rate of these injuries have been increasing since 2003. Greater efforts are warranted to prevent injuries associated with other nursery products, especially baby carriers, cribs, and strollers. Prevention of falls and concussions/closed head injuries associated with nursery products also deserves special attention.
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