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Snowmobiles Pose Risks for Children
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SATURDAY, Jan. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Snowmobile accidents are
a major cause of multiple trauma injuries in children and adolescents
and more needs to be done to prevent such injuries, concludes a
study in the January issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
Helmet use, reduced speeds and increased regulation of snowmobiles
are among the methods that can be used to decrease injuries in children
and teens, the Mayo researchers said.
The study included 43 children age 18 and younger with snowmobile-related
injuries treated at the Mayo Clinic Rochester between February 1992
and December 2001. Of these children and teens: 98 percent had orthopedic
injuries; 28 percent, abdominal injuries; 19 percent, head injuries;
14 percent, skin lacerations; and seven percent, facial injuries.
Overall, 46.5 percent of the patients had multiple injuries.
Children most likely to be injured included those who didn't wear
a helmet; drivers; and those on a snowmobile traveling at 50 miles
per hour or more, the study said.
"Clearly, helmet use should be a universal requirement for
operating snowmobiles. Children under 16 should not operate snowmobiles
at all, and all should be encouraged to reduce speed. This study
reinforces the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines, published
in 2000," study co-author Dr. Scott Zietlow, a Mayo Clinic
trauma surgeon, said in a prepared statement.
The study noted that the health and financial costs to society
of snowmobile-related crashes are at an all-time high. These costs
include long-term disabilities and follow-up of patients.
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