Published online July 13, 2009
PEDIATRICS Vol. 124 No. 2 August 2009, pp. 541-547 (doi:10.1542/peds.2008-2489)
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ARTICLE

Injuries Associated With Bathtubs and Showers Among Children in the United States

Shengyi J. Mao, BSa,b, Lara B. McKenzie, PhD, MAb,c, Huiyun Xiang, MD, PhD, MPHb,c and Gary A. Smith, MD, DrPHb,c

c Department of Pediatrics
a The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio
b Center for Injury Research and Policy, Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio

OBJECTIVE: The goal was to describe the epidemiological features of injuries associated with bathtubs and showers, especially those related to slips, trips, and falls, among US children.

METHODS: A retrospective study was performed by using nationally representative data from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission National Electronic Injury Surveillance System from 1990 through 2007 for children ≤18 years of age.

RESULTS: There were an estimated 791 200 bathtub- and shower-related injuries among children ≤18 years of age who were treated in US emergency departments in 1990–2007, with an average of 43 600 cases per year or ~5.9 injuries per 10 000 US children per year. The largest number of injuries involved children 2 years of age; children ≤4 years accounted for 54.3% of injuries. The most common diagnosis was laceration (59.5%). The most common mechanism of injury was a slip, trip, or fall, accounting for 81.0% of cases or 4.6 injuries per 10 000 US children per year. The most frequently injured body part was the face (48.0%), followed by the head/neck (15.0%). The majority (71.3%) of injuries occurred in a bathtub. Of the cases with a known place of injury, 97.1% occurred at home. An estimated 2.8% of patients were admitted, transferred to another hospital, or held for observation.

CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study on bathtub- and shower-related injuries using nationally representative data. Slips, trips, and falls in bathtubs and showers are a common cause of injury among children, especially children ≤4 years of age. The incidence of these injuries may be decreased by increasing the coefficient of friction of bathtub and shower surfaces.

Key Words: injury • bathtub • shower • prevention • accident • slip • trip • fall • trauma

Abbreviations: ASTM—American Society for Testing and Materials • CI—confidence interval • COF—coefficient of friction • CPSC—Consumer Product Safety Commission • ED—emergency department • NEISS—National Electronic Injury Surveillance System

Accepted Dec 16, 2008.


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