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Safety warnings ineffective for adolescent ATV riders to prevent injuries
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Ohio researchers concluded that manufacturer warnings on all-terrain vehicles cautioning against use for children under age 16 years are ineffective, as this demographic is responsible for approximately 40% of all-terrain vehicles injuries and nearly 60% of those injured are riding again within 6 months, according to a recent presentation.
Rebeccah L. Brown, MD, associate director of trauma services and associate professor in the Division of Pediatric Surgery at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, noted that dealer-sponsored training for all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) was infrequently offered and most ATV users found the training unnecessary.
“Although ATVs have surged in popularity over the past several years, they pose significant dangers for children 16 and under who simply do not have the physical strength, cognitive skills, maturity or judgment to safely operate ATVs,” Brown stated in a press release.
Parents of children injured in ATV crashes filled out an initial survey that asked about the nature of the crash, including safety practices, cause of the crash, their child’s injuries and any risk-taking behaviors.
Head and neck injuries occurred in 34.7% of riders involved in a crash, followed by chest and abdomen injuries in 10.2% of riders, according to the release. Parents reported that their children used safety equipment and helmets in 77.6% and 65.9% of surveys, respectively, but 36.7% of riders were actually wearing a helmet during the accident.
Regarding injuries, the accidents led to fractures in 30.6% of cases and soft tissue injuries in 14.3%, according to the researchers. No parents reported enrolling their child in a formal training course but researchers noted that 47% of parents said the children had received training from a friend or relative.
“ATV manufacturer warning labels are largely ineffective and ATV training is infrequently offered to ATV users, most of whom deem it unnecessary,” Brown said, noting that mandatory safety courses and enforceable helmet legislation could reduce the number of injuries.
Reference:
Brown RL. Paper #18373. Presented at: American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition; Oct. 20-23, 2012; New Orleans.
