Uneven ground, football, and falling off the bed are the leading causes of nonfatal brain injuries in kids, a new study suggests.
In the study, researchers examined data on traumatic brain injuries among kids and teens treated at emergency departments of 66 U.S. hospitals between 2010 and 2013.
The data, published in the journal Brain Injury, showed that 72% of injuries were related to products regulated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
“Structural designs, such as uneven flooring, often contribute to falls, which is the leading cause of traumatic brain injury in children,” said lead author Bina Ali.
“In most cases, infants and children are safe in bed and when playing sports outside, but our study highlights some of the risks and the priorities in different age groups for preventing serious head injuries.”
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Broken down my age group, one-quarter of head injuries in infants under one year old were due to falling from beds. Uneven floors were second at 14%. In 1- to 4-year-olds, 10% of injuries were bed-related; 10% were stairs; 10% were floors. Been 5 and 9 years of age, floors were still the leader (6%), and bicycle accidents were second (5%).
Football was the leading cause of traumatic brain injury in older kids. It caused 14% of injuries in 10- to 14-year-olds and 9% for 15- to 19-year-olds. Basketball was second in these age groups. Bicycles and soccer were the other two activities causing the most nonfatal head injuries.
“Simple measures, such as removing trip hazards, using stair gates and guard rails, avoiding hard-surface playgrounds, and wearing helmets could help reduce the risk of injury, as well as adult education to ensure proper use of consumer products and adherence to safety guidelines,” Ali advised.
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