WebMD Medical News
Laura J. Martin, MD
Aug. 23, 2010 -- Sledding is popular for only a portion of the year, yet it lands about 20,000 children in the emergency room each year, new research shows.
Researchers analyzed data for 1997-2007 from the Center for Injury Research and Policy of the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. They found an estimated 229,023 injuries serious enough for ER treatment in that time period among children under 19.
The study, now online, will appear in the September issue of the journal Pediatrics. It says:
Researchers say young people were more likely to sustain head injuries and to be diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury and hospitalized if accidents occurred on a street or highway.
“Two of the main factors that contribute to sledding-related injuries are the environment and the locale,” study co-author Lara McKenzie, PhD, of the Ohio State University College of Medicine, says in a news release.
McKenzie, who is affiliated with the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, says sledding areas should be clear of trees and other obstacles.
Also, they “should have sufficient run-out areas away from streets,” she says. “In addition, sledding on streets and highways should be avoided to prevent collisions with motor vehicles and other traffic.”
McKenzie says the study indicates the prevalence of sledding injuries is much greater than previously thought.
“Given the potential for serious injury, children should never ride a sled that is being pulled by a motorized vehicle of any type, including all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, cars, trucks, tractors, motorcycles, dirt bikes, and lawn mowers.”
Statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau were used to calculate injury estimates.
Researchers say research is needed to determine whether helmets would reduce injury rates. They also examined the types of sledding vehicles involved in injuries, from sleds and snow tubes to toboggans and snow disks.
Among other findings:
SOURCES:News release, Nationwide Children’s Hospital.Howell, C. Pediatrics, September 2010; vol 126: pp 517-524.
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