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Water tubing-related injuries increased, differed between adults, children
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Water tubing-related injuries treated at U.S. emergency departments increased 250% during a 19-year period and differed in patterns for adults compared with children, according to study results.
“During the summer months, there are more than 65 water tubing-related injures treated in emergency departments every day,” researcher Lara B. McKenzie, PhD, of the Center for Injury Research and Policy, Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, told Healio.com.
Lara B. McKenzie
Water tubing, which involves participants riding a hydroplaning inner tube pulled behind a boat by tow rope, has grown in popularity since its advent in the 1970s, according to the researchers. They examined an estimated 69,471 water-tubing injuries treated at EDs from 1991 through 2009 by using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. Injury estimates were calculated through sample weights, with analyses conducted in 2010.
During the study, the annual number of water tubing-injury cases increased 250%, from 2,078 in 1991 to 7,216 in 2009 (P<.001). Hospitalizations were required in 4% of cases. The largest portion of injuries was sprains and strains (27.2%), and the head was the most frequently injured body part (27.5%). Mean age of injured participants was 24.8 years, with adults aged 20 years or older accounting for 59.4% of injuries. Impact with water was the most common injury mechanism (49.3%).
More than half of all injuries were sustained by men and boys (56.3%), and most injuries occurred in July (40.5%), August (27.2%) and June (15.5%).
Injuries involving contact with another person and injuries to the head were more likely to be sustained by children and adolescents aged 19 years or younger compared with adults (OR=2.47; 95% CI, 1.61-3.80; OR=2.61; 95% CI, 2.01-3.38, respectively). Sprains and strains (OR=2.11; 95% CI, 1.74-2.71) and injuries by impact with the water (54.6%) were more likely sustained by adults aged 20 years and older compared with children and adolescents.
“Continued research is needed to understand how the number of riders per water tube, tube design, boat speed and protective gear such as helmets and life jackets, may influence water tubing-related injuries,” the researchers concluded.
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