Winter-Related Injuries Can Turn Happy Holidays Into Needless Tragedies

December 18, 2006 – 6:47 pm | posted in Neurology / Neuroscience, Public Health

In 2005, an estimated one million people were treated at U.S. hospital emergency rooms for head injuries related to common products found around the home. An additional 15,000 were treated for head injuries related to motor vehicles. Winter sports contributed to nearly 26,000 estimated head injuries. Particularly around the winter holidays, people tend to be absorbed in celebration and may not be as careful as usual. Holiday fun can too quickly turn into a life-shattering tragedy that could have been prevented by simply taking proper safety precautions. According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), many injuries can be prevented by removing potential hazards inside and outside the home, following proper driving precautions, and playing sports safely.

The 2005 head injury statistics from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission include the following winter-related products, which contributed to thousands of head injuries treated in emergency rooms:

Home Products

Toys (all categories): 13,663
Fireplaces (all types combined): 4,251
Heaters (all types combined): 1,542
Manual Snow Removal Tools: 561
Outerwear: 441
Christmas Decorations (nonelectric): 345
Christmas Tree Lights: 295
Snow Throwers/Blowers: 83
Artificial Christmas Trees: 75

Winter Sports (including apparel and equipment)

Ice Hockey: 6,069
Snow Boarding: 5,912
Snow Skiing: 4,917
Sleds, Snow Disks and Toboggans: 4,637
Ice Skating: 2,853
Snow Tubing: 701
Snowmobiles: 540

The AANS offers these Prevention Tips:

– Remove hazards in the home that may contribute to falls. Secure rugs and loose electrical cords, put away toys, use safety gates, and install window guards.

– Remove ice and snow to help prevent falls outside the home.

– Buy toys that are age appropriate for the child and discard them when they break.

– Install grab bars and handrails if you are frail or elderly.

– Wear a seatbelt every time you drive or ride in a motor vehicle.

– Never drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol or ride as a passenger with anybody else who is under the influence.

– Buy and use helmets or protective head gear approved by the ASTM for specific sports 100 percent of the time.

– Wear appropriate clothing for the sport.

– Do not participate in sports when you are ill or very tired.

The AANS has free downloadable fact sheets on injury prevention at: http://www.NeurosurgeryToday.org, under Patient Safety Tips.

Founded in 1931 as the Harvey Cushing Society, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) is a scientific and educational association with more than 6,800 members worldwide. The AANS is dedicated to advancing the specialty of neurological surgery in order to provide the highest quality of neurosurgical care to the public. All active members of the AANS are certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (Neurosurgery) of Canada or the Mexican Council of Neurological Surgery, AC. Neurological surgery is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of disorders that affect the entire nervous system, including the spinal column, spinal cord, brain, and peripheral nerves.

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