ATVs: Motorized Toys or Vehicles for Children?

This study compares the nature of injuries from all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) to those from bicycling, dirtbikes and motor vehicle crashes. Data on such injuries were collected from cases presenting to the emergency department of a Canadian pediatric health center over a 10-year period. Demographics, mechanisms and nature of injuries sustained, disposition from the emergency department, and lengths of hospital stay were compared. Findings showed that ATV related injuries occurred among older ages and appeared to result less often from loss of control compared to bicycle injuries. Severe injuries resulting in deep soft tissue trauma and fractures/dislocations were 1.7 and 1.5 times, respectively, more frequent than bicycling. ATV related injuries also were located more frequently in the trunk, hip, lower extremity and spinal regions. ATV related trauma bore significant similarities regarding body part and nature of the injury to both motor vehicle crash (MVC) and dirtbike related injuries. Similar to dirtbike and MVC related trauma, ATV related injuries more frequently required admission to the ward or intensive care unit and greater use of in-hospital resources compared to bicycling injuries. These results suggest that although ATVs may be considered recreational for children, their associated injury patterns, severity and costs to the healthcare system are more significant than bicycling and more closely resemble those from motorized vehicles. Policy and industry implications are discussed.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/13538047
• Authors:
  • Yanchar, N L
  • Kennedy, R
  • Russell, C
• Publication Date: 2006-2

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 30-34
• Serial:
  • Injury Prevention
  • Volume: 12
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
  • ISSN: 1353-8047
  • EISSN: 1475-5785
  • Serial URL: http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: All terrain vehicles; Bicycles; Children; Crash injuries; Crash victims; Demographics; Hospital emergency rooms; Injury causes; Injury classification; Injury types; Motor vehicles
• Uncontrolled Terms: Dirtbikes
• Geographic Terms: Canada
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Society; I84: Personal Injuries;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01020284
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 20 2006 7:28AM