OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to describe and identify the type, cause, and epidemiology of injuries related to exercise equipment to children younger than 5 years reported to US emergency rooms. METHODS: A retrospective review of data for children 4 years old and younger from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission for the years 1994 to 2001 was conducted. A total of 1679 children were identified obtaining treatment at a participating emergency room. RESULTS: There were an estimated 46,440 exercise equipment-related injuries (95% confidence interval, 38,081-55,079 injuries) 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 28.32 per 100,000. Most injuries involved the head, foot, and hand regions. Injury diagnosis included lacerations (49%), soft tissue injuries (29%), and fractures and dislocations (9%). Most hospital admissions were for amputations (36%), fractures (34%), and lacerations (20%). CONCLUSIONS: Injuries can result from children's exposure to exercise equipment in the home. Parental awareness of the dangers of home-based exercise equipment and the potential hazards of exercise equipment-related injuries on the limbs and head region is recommended.
OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to describe and identify the type, cause, and epidemiology of injuries related to exercise equipment to children younger than 5 years reported to US emergency rooms. METHODS: A retrospective review of data for children 4 years old and younger from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission for the years 1994 to 2001 was conducted. A total of 1679 children were identified obtaining treatment at a participating emergency room. RESULTS: There were an estimated 46,440 exercise equipment-related injuries (95% confidence interval, 38,081-55,079 injuries) 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 28.32 per 100,000. Most injuries involved the head, foot, and hand regions. Injury diagnosis included lacerations (49%), soft tissue injuries (29%), and fractures and dislocations (9%). Most hospital admissions were for amputations (36%), fractures (34%), and lacerations (20%). CONCLUSIONS: Injuries can result from children's exposure to exercise equipment in the home. Parental awareness of the dangers of home-based exercise equipment and the potential hazards of exercise equipment-related injuries on the limbs and head region is recommended.