Elevator Injuries: Kids at Risk

U.S. children and teens had more than 29,000 elevator
injuries serious enough to require hospital visits from 1990 to 2004.

That translates to 1,940 elevator injuries in an average year, a new study
shows.

Indiana University pediatrician Joseph O'Neil, MD, MPH, and colleagues
reviewed elevator injury data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission.

The data came from 98 hospital emergency rooms nationwide.

Using that data, O'Neil's team estimated how many babies, kids, and teens
were injured in U.S. elevators between 1990 and 2004.

Elevator Injury Statistics

During the study period, 2.5 per 100,000 kids and teens were injured on
elevators, usually when elevator doors closed on them.

Most injuries involved bruises, scrapes, sprains, and strains on the upper
extremities -- the arms, hands, elbows, wrists, and fingers.

After the upper extremities, the head was the most commonly injured body
part for kids aged 4 or younger.

Nearly all patients were treated and released from the hospitals' emergency
departments. But 2% were hospitalized, mainly for head injuries or injury to a
hand or finger.

Young Kids' Risk

About 26% of elevator injuries happened in 1- and 2-year-olds, more than any
other age group.

Kids that age typically start walking and becoming more independent, but
they may not yet know how to stay safe on elevators.

"Young children, especially younger than 5 years of age, often lack the
strength, coordination, balance, and protective reflexes needed to avoid an
elevator-related injury," O'Neil's team writes.

If kids see grown-ups blocking elevator doors, they may imitate them, which
may lead to injury, note the researchers. Of course, blocking elevator doors
isn't a proper use of elevators at any age.

Elevator Safety Tips

O'Neil and colleagues offer four tips on elevator safety:

• Young children should be closely supervised in or near elevators.


• Passengers of any age should use caution when entering or exiting an
  elevator.


• Parents and caregivers should be encouraged to set an example by not trying
  to prevent an elevator door from closing.


• Elevator doors should be adjusted to sense light pressure from a child and
  open in response.

• Keeping your toddler
  safe is a challenge. Talk with other moms and dads on WebMD's Parenting:
  2-Year-Olds message board.

By Miranda Hitti
Reviewed by Louise Chang
B)2005-2006 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved