Pediatric injuries in the back of pickup trucks

Article Abstract:

During 1987, 127 children under the age of 20 years died as a result of injuries they sustained while riding in the back of a pickup truck; another 1,000 were injured. Occupant protection legislation has not addressed this problem. An analysis was conducted to review the characteristics of these injuries, and compare them to injuries sustained by children riding in the cabs of trucks. Statistics were obtained from pickup truck accidents that occurred in Orange County, California between 1980 and 1989 and involved children, aged 14 years and younger. Data revealed that, of 290 children involved in pickup truck-related accidents, 201 were riding in the cab and 89 were riding in the back of the truck. Most of the children riding in the back were placed there because the cab was already fully occupied. The California Child Passenger Safety Law requires children under four years of age to travel in child safety seats, whereas children over four are required to wear seat belts by the Mandatory Seat Belt Use Law. Of those children riding in the back, 51 percent were 10 to 14 years old, 30 percent were 4 to 9 years of age, and 19 percent were 3 years or younger. Although most of the accidents occurred on surface streets, a significantly higher proportion of children riding in the back were injured in highway accidents. This group was significantly more likely than the children riding in the cab to be injured in a non-crash event (24 vs 9 percent); to be ejected during the incident (47 vs 11 percent); to sustain more intracranial (within the skull) injuries (21 vs 11 percent); more extremity (arm and leg) fractures (16 vs 5 percent); and more multiple injuries. Of those riding in the cab who received serious injuries (10 children), only one child was restrained at the time of the accident. Five of the nine children who were not restrained were ejected from the cab and suffered multiple internal injuries, including cardiac contusions and intracranial injuries; four were fatally injured, and the surviving child suffered severe injuries and neurological impairment. All of the children riding in the back who sustained serious injuries (nine) were ejected; most of the vehicles were traveling on a freeway or highway. This type of travel is potentially dangerous for children, and to date only the state of New Jersey has declared riding in the back of open pickup trucks illegal. Several other states have laws defining the conditions which mandate this travel legal or illegal, but most states permit it. This study also demonstrates that travel in enclosed beds is dangerous for children. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Trucks, Safety and security measures, Laws, regulations and rules, Reports, Children, Traffic safety, Seat belts, Traffic accident investigation, Traffic safety and children

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Injuries associated with use of snowmobiles - New Hampshire, 1989-1992

Article Abstract:

Most snowmobile-related injuries and deaths in New Hampshire may affect young men and may often involve alcohol or excessive speed. Researchers reviewed the state-mandated reports of snowmobile-related injuries and death that occurred in New Hampshire between January 1989 and February 1992. During this 14-month period, there were 164 snowmobile accidents involving 201 vehicles. There were a total of 165 non-fatal injuries and 12 deaths. All snowmobile drivers in fatal accidents and 86% of drivers in non-fatal accidents were men. Fifty-four percent of snowmobile drivers in fatal accidents and 40% of drivers in non-fatal accidents were between 20 and 29 years of age. No snowmobile drivers in fatal accidents and 7% of drivers in non-fatal accidents had completed an off-highway recreational vehicle safety course. Sixty-seven percent of all fatal accidents were alcohol-related and 67% were associated with excessive speed.

Health aspects, New Hampshire, Snowmobiling

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Boxing-related injuries in the US Army, 1980 through 1985

Article Abstract:

A survey showing that an average of 67 military personnel per year are admitted to the hospital with boxing-related injuries raises questions concerning the advisability of continuing to promote competitive boxing in the armed forces. The total number of admissions during the survey period was 401. On average, the patients were hospitalized for just over five days and remained unfit for duty for nearly nine days. There was one death and one case of one-sided-blindness from injury to the eye, which had to be removed. Head trauma constituted 68 percent of the injuries, a category that included concussion, brain hemorrhage, skull fracture and fracture of the facial bones. Injuries to the upper extremity and trunk were the next most common.

Causes of, Demographic aspects, Head injuries, United States. Army, College sports, Brain damage, Boxing

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