Bunk Bed–Related Injuries Among Children and Adolescents Treated in Emergency Departments in the United States, 1990–2005

Abstract

Our goal was to comprehensively examine bunk bed-related injuries in the United States by using a nationally representative sample. Using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database, cases of nonfatal bunk bed-related injuries treated in US emergency departments from 1990 through 2005 were selected by using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System bunk bed product code (0661). Cases concerning individuals </=21 years old were included. An estimated 572 580 children and adolescents aged </=21 years were treated in US emergency departments for bunk bed-related injuries during the 16-year study period, yielding an average of 35 790 cases annually. An average of 42 per 100 000 population were treated annually. Bunk bed-related injuries occurred more frequently among males (60.6%). Lacerations were the most common type of injury (29.7%), followed by contusions and abrasions (24.0%) and fractures (19.9%). The body parts most frequently injured were the head and neck (27.3%) in all age groups. Falls were the most common mechanism of injury (72.5%). Of the cases for which locale of injury was recorded, 93.5% occurred at home. Approximately half of the bunk bed-related injuries that occurred at schools involved individuals aged 18 to 21 years (50.9%). An estimated 2.9% of injuries resulted in hospitalization or transfer to another hospital or required additional observation. The number of bunk bed-related injuries showed no significant trend from 1990 to 2005. Bunk beds are a common source of injury among children and adolescents, and these injuries mostly involve the head and face. Given the continuing large numbers of bunk bed-related injuries at homes and in schools, increased efforts are needed to prevent bunk bed-related injuries among children and adolescents.