Wheeled Sports

Wheeled Sports Wheeled Sports Preventing Injuries To Children Michael J. Mello, MD, MPH Eugene Y. Fukudome BS The Injury Free Coalition for Kids® is a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation at Columbia University Medical Center’s Mailman School of Public Health. Bicycles • 700-900 people die in bicycle• More than 500,000 people are related injuries each year in the United States treated in hospital emergency departments for bicycle-related injuries occur in children less than 15 years old • The majority of bicycle injuries Bicycles • Head injuries account for 1/3 of • 90% of people killed in 2000 emergency room visits by bicycle riders were not wearing a helmet while bicycling Bicycles Injuries to the face, muscles, bones, as well as bruises, cuts and scrapes also occur in bicycle riders Bicycles • Always wear a helmet when riding your bicycle • Ride a bicycle that is the correct size for you • Keep bicycle in good repair, and check the breaks often • One person per bicycle: no riding on handlebars or pegs. Bicycles • Ride on the right side of the road • Use hand signals: • Kids (10 and under) should only ride on the sidewalk −left arm straight out = left turn −left arm bent up at elbow = right turn • Stop and look both directions before turning on to a street Bicycles • Learn and obey all traffic rules, signs, and signals • Always watch for cars • Walk bicycles across busy intersections • Be visible to cars • Wear bright clothing • At night, use reflectors and lights Bicycles • Bicycle riding is a popular form of recreation and transportation bicycles • 67-85 million Americans ride • 70% of children 5-14 years old ride bicycles Bicycles • Two hands on handlebars • Don’t carry large things while riding • Do not drink alcohol or use drugs before riding • Never use headphones while riding your bicycle Skateboards • 5.8 million children and adolescents less than 18 years old skateboard skateboard on a weekly basis • 750,000 children and adolescents • Skateboarding is more popular among males Skateboards • Skateboarding deaths are rare • Skateboarding injuries result in 50,000 visits to the emergency room and 1,500 hospitalizations yearly • 25% of hospitalizations are due to skateboarders colliding with cars Skateboards •The most common areas injured while skateboarding are the ankle, wrist, and face frequently than girls •Boys are injured much more Skateboards • Children under 5 should not skateboard • Children 6 - 10 years of age should skateboard only with close supervision short deck and wide wheels • Beginners should use skateboards with a • Never skateboard in traffic • Never hold on to moving vehicles while skateboarding Skateboards • Skateboard in skate parks • Skateboard protective gear: – Helmet – Wrist guards – Elbow pads – Knee pads • Gloves will help protect your hands In-line skates • In-line skates were introduced in the 1980s • Around 37 million people of all ages in-line skate • Over 17 million people under 18 years of age skate In-line Skates • In-line skaters tend to fall forward • Thus, injuries to arms and hands such as fractures, and dislocations are common also occur while in-line skating • Head and leg injuries In-line Skates • Death resulting from inline skating is rare • In-line skating is responsible for some 153,000 injuries each year In-line Skates • In-line skating protective gear: – Helmet – Wrist guards – Elbow pads – Knee pads • Avoid in-line skating in traffic • Never hold on to moving vehicles while in-line skating In-line Skates • Do not in-line skate at night • Beginners should avoid hills • Beginners and intermediate skaters should use skates with 3 or 4 wheels • Beginners should consider skating lessons Scooters •The currently popular scooter was introduced in 2000 •These light-weight scooters utilize low-friction wheels, and achieve speeds of 5-8 mph people used a scooter •In 2000, more than 11 million Scooters • Between 1999 and 2002, there were 20 deaths resulting from scooters • There were an estimated 40,500 trips to the emergency room as a result of scooter injuries in 2000 children younger than 15 years old • 85% of scooter injuries occurred in Scooters • Common scooter-related injuries include fractures, dislocations, sprains, cuts, and bruises, and affect the wrist, elbow, lower arm, and knee • Head and face injuries also occur • Injuries tend to occur when scooter wheels hit a small object, while performing a trick, or while trying to stop Scooters • Always wear protective gear while riding a scooter: – – – Helmet Knee pads Elbow pads • Do not use wrist guards while riding a scooter because wrist guards make it difficult to grip the handlebars Scooters • Children younger than 8 years of age should be closely supervised while riding a scooter surfaces; ride on smooth, paved surfaces • Never use scooters on wet or sandy • Beginners should avoid hills Scooters • Never use scooters at night • Avoid using scooters in traffic, rather, use the sidewalk • One person per scooter • Always test out your breaks before riding • Wear sturdy shoes The Problem • Many research studies have shown that protective equipment such as helmets prevent or decrease the severity of injury continue to neglect safety equipment • Yet some children and adolescents • Thus, many preventable injuries, some severe, continue to occur Cost • Injuries are costly, both financially and personally • For example, medical bills for bicycle-related injuries can total $81 million per year pain, suffering, anxiety, and disability that result from injury • There are additional costs such as Model for Injury Prevention Community Concern Environmental Change Evaluation Education & Awareness Physical Environment Coalitions Specific Social Environment Programs Epidemiologic Data Outcome Data Injury Prevention • There are different kinds of helmets for different activities Bicycle Scooter / Skateboard Injury Prevention • Choose a helmet that complies with US Consumer Product Safety Commission standards (check the label) worn correctly to be effective your child to “grow into” • Helmets must fit properly and be • Do not purchase large helmets for Injury Prevention • Make sure the • front of the helmet is facing forward Helmets should be straight, and should NOT tilt forwards or backwards Injury Prevention Chin straps should be snug enough that the helmet cannot be moved from side to side Injury Prevention • Helmets that have been through a crash should be discarded, and a new helmet should be purchased • Parents can set an example for children by always wearing their helmet