Epidemiology of Weight Training Equipment–Related Injuries to Young Children in the Home

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe objective of this study was to describe and identify the type, cause, and epidemiology of injuries related to weight training equipment (WTE) to children under 5 reported to U.S. emergency rooms. Methods included a retrospective review of data for children 4 years old and younger from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance (NEISS) system of the U.S. consumer Product Safety Commission for the years 1994–2001. A total of 893 children were identified who obtained treatment at a participating emergency room. Results indicated there were an estimated 28,873 WTE-related injuries (95% CI [CI]: 23,194–34,552) to children 4 years old and younger treated in hospital emergency departments in the United States during the 8-year study period. The annual rate of injury among children was 15.97 per 100,000. Most injuries involved the foot, head, and hand regions. Injury diagnosis included soft tissue injuries (38%), lacerations (35%), and fractures and dislocations (20%). Most hospital admissions were f...