Bathtub Danger: Thousands Of Kids Injured Each Year In Slips And Falls

Main Category: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 17 Jul 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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More than 43,000 children are injured in bathtubs and showers every year, mostly from slips and falls, according to the study, "Injuries Associated With Bathtubs and Showers Among Children in the United States." While bathtub injuries associated with tap water burns and submersions have generated much research, this is the first study using nationally representative data to look at injuries from slips and falls, which are responsible for the majority of bathtub injuries. Using data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission from 1990 to 2007, researchers evaluated an estimated 791,200 bathtub- and shower-related injuries during the 18-year study period among children 18 years old and younger who were treated in U.S. emergency departments.

That's an average of 43,600 cases per year, or roughly 5.9 injuries per 10,000 U.S. children per year. Injuries to children four years of age and younger accounted for more than half of the cases in this study. More than 80 percent of injuries were due to slips, trips or falls. The most frequently injured body region was the face (48 percent), followed by the head or neck (15 percent). The incidence of these injuries could be decreased by nonslip mats or coatings in bathtubs and showers. Researchers suggest product standards for tubs and showers should be reevaluated to increase slip resistance requirements.

Source
American Academy of Pediatrics

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