Patterns of injury in pediatric patients in one Florida community and implications for prevention programs

Abstract

To meet community needs, injury prevention programs for children should be based on an understanding of the patterns of different mechanisms of injury. This study was conducted by the staff of a level II pediatric trauma center to describe the patterns of injury in pediatric patients with traumatic injuries. We conducted a retrospective review of medical records of all 184 pediatric "trauma alert" patients seen during a 1-year period. The trauma alert status is assigned to children with serious injuries or when the mechanism of injury is severe. Data analysis used descriptive statistics. Pedestrian-versus-automobile injuries were the most common and most severe injuries, followed in frequency by falls, motor vehicle occupant, and bicycle-versus-automobile injuries. Younger children tended to have injuries as a result of falls; school-age children were involved more often in pedestrian and bicycle injuries, and adolescents had more motor vehicle occupant injuries. Failure to use safety devices, such as helmets and seat belts, was a common finding. Patterns of injury were similar to those described in national studies. An extensive helmet campaign directed at child bicyclists was developed as a result of the priorities generated from the study. Other community programs included bicycle rodeos and a mix-off of nonalcoholic beverages.