AIM: To describe the incidence and demographics of children injured by slow-moving vehicles in Auckland driveways in order to develop preventative strategies. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all children less than 15 years, 76 in total, who were injured by a vehicle in a driveway within Auckland between January 1998 and October 2001. Patient demographics and risk factors were identified by clinical note review, contacting the parents, and inspecting the driveways involved. RESULTS: These injuries occur most commonly in children less than 4 years old (86%), usually boys (58%), who are reversed over by a relative (68%) at the home driveway (71%). There were six deaths within the study period. Head and thoracic injuries predominated and were typically associated with lower limb injuries. Maori and Pacific Island children represented 74% of all the cases. Nineteen drivers saw the child immediately prior to reversal in a presumed safe position. None of the driveways had any fencing to separate the driveway from rest of the property. CONCLUSIONS: A combination of targeted public health messages to increase awareness, safer driveway design and the fencing of domestic rental properties will prevent these injuries.
AIM: To describe the incidence and demographics of children injured by slow-moving vehicles in Auckland driveways in order to develop preventative strategies. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all children less than 15 years, 76 in total, who were injured by a vehicle in a driveway within Auckland between January 1998 and October 2001. Patient demographics and risk factors were identified by clinical note review, contacting the parents, and inspecting the driveways involved. RESULTS: These injuries occur most commonly in children less than 4 years old (86%), usually boys (58%), who are reversed over by a relative (68%) at the home driveway (71%). There were six deaths within the study period. Head and thoracic injuries predominated and were typically associated with lower limb injuries. Maori and Pacific Island children represented 74% of all the cases. Nineteen drivers saw the child immediately prior to reversal in a presumed safe position. None of the driveways had any fencing to separate the driveway from rest of the property. CONCLUSIONS: A combination of targeted public health messages to increase awareness, safer driveway design and the fencing of domestic rental properties will prevent these injuries.
Authors: David S Hurwitz; Anuj Pradhan; Donald L Fisher; Michael A Knodler; Jeffrey W Muttart; Rajiv Menon; Uwe Meissner Journal: Inj Prev Date: 2010-04 Impact factor: 2.399
Authors: Bronwyn R Griffin; Kerrianne Watt; Belinda A Wallis; Linda E Shields; Roy M Kimble Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2014-03-11 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Thomas M Rice; Roger B Trent; Kate Bernacki; Jennifer K Rice; Bonnie Lovette; Eileen Hoover; Janette Fennell; Anna Zacher Aistrich; Dana Wiltsek; Ellen Corman; Craig L Anderson; John Sherck Journal: West J Emerg Med Date: 2012-05