Product-related child fall injury
Department of Human Services and Health, Monograph No. 4, 1996
Full report in .pdf format [1.8MB]
Authors: J. Ozanne-Smith & I. A. Brumen
Abstract:
This study identified a wide range of issues and products specifically involved in child falls and proposes a number of strategies to improve our understanding of the problem and to prevent and control fall injuries that are related to consumer products.
The methods used in this investigation included: an examination of available Victorian data on injury deaths, hospital admissions, hospital emergency department presentations and general practice presentations to obtain an overview of the size and nature of the product-related child injury problem; a review of published and unpublished literature which was used to develop a countermeasures matrix; and a review of countermeasures which was used to develop an hierarchy of countermeasures based on evidence of their effectiveness which formed the basis for the action plan.
The products identified as most frequently involved in fall-related injury across most levels of severity were playground equipment, stairs and steps, bicycles, chairs and stools, nursery furniture, skates and skateboards, conventional beds and swimming pools. Most falls occurred in the home (49%) and educational settings (16%).
The rate of fall injuries to children aged under 15 years resulting in hospitalisation in Victoria showed a statistically significant overall increase over the period July 1987 - June 1994, with significant increases also noted in the under one year and the 10-14 year age groups.
There was a higher proportion of children who fell more than one metre in the group of children admitted to hospital, indicating that these fallers sustained more serious injuries. The main injury resulting from child falls was fractures, 38% of which were of the radius/ulna. Although concussion was the fifth most frequent type of injury, it rated highest in terms of severity with a 45% hospital admission rate.
A comprehensive intersectoral action plan to reduce fall-related child injuries is recommended which includes general recommendations such as the establishment of a national consumer product safety commission, an intersectoral National Injury Prevention Taskforce to advise government and an exposure database to centralise available information on the prevalence of hazardous and protective products. Specific recommendations cover playground and forearm fractures, safe home design, child restraint regulation and promotion, protective helmets, compliance with standards, data and research, regulation and standardisation and consumer and industry education.