Child and adolescent injury as a result of falls from buildings and structures

Abstract

Objective:To examine incidence, demographic risk factors, and patterns of injury resulting from falls from buildings and structures in areas with and without a legislation based prevention programme.Design and setting:The Health Care Cost and Utilization Project (KID-HCUP) was used to produce national estimates of hospital admissions due to falls from buildings in the US. Areas of New York with and without window guard legislation were identified through the New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS).Subjects:Children and adolescents aged 0–18 years.Interventions:Legislation based window fall prevention programme with enforcement.Main outcome measures:Hospitalization for injury as a result of falls from buildings and structures in areas with and without enforced mandatory window guard legislation.Results:New York City has a higher proportion of the population residing in multifamily dwellings with 10 or more units compared with the nation (53.8%v12.6%, p<0.0001), but the incidence of injury resulting from falls from buildings is nearly half that observed in the US. For young children, warm weather risks begin earlier and extend later than previously reported. Incidence in very young minority children is nearly twice that of whites. Nearly 90% of children aged 0–4 years fall at home, but the proportion decreases linearly with age.Conclusions:Window guards are associated with reduced injury resulting from falls from buildings and should be mandated in multifamily dwellings where small children reside. Prevention programmes for young children should be initiated in early spring and continued through fall.

Pediatric Injuries Attributable to Falls From Windows in the United States in 1990–2008

“…1,[3][4][5][6]8,9,[11][12][13]16 There was seasonal variation, with more window falls during the spring and summer months. The rate of injury among younger children (0 -4 years of age) was greater than that among older children (5-17 years of age), and younger children were more likely to sustain serious injuries, as demonstrated by their increased risk of hospitalization or death.…”

“…A national epidemiological study on pediatric falls from buildings and structures, based on a data sample from 27 states, was published in 2005. 9 However, that study was based on hospitalization data, which did not include multiyear trends or details regarding the circumstances of the injury events, which are important for developing prevention strategies.…”

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] Initial studies were performed with large urban populations, primarily in New York, New York, and Chicago, Illinois. Children living in high-density, multifamily, housing structures and high-rise buildings were thought to be at greater risk of serious injury resulting from window falls.…”

Unintentional Home Injuries Across the Life Span: Problems and Solutions

“…In response to injury incidence data, the New York City Board of Health passed a law requiring property owners of multiple-story buildings to provide window guards for all dwellings with children under 10 years of age. This effort resulted in a 96% reduction in hospital admissions for falls from windows (99). Window guards are recommended for windows on the first floor over 12 feet high and on all windows above the first story.…”

Evaluation of forensic cases admitted to pediatric intensive care unit

“…In our study, the excess of the cases of falling from height was noted. When this subject was examined, it was observed that protective safety precautions for children at doors and windows in environments where children are found were legally mandatory in developed countries (17). We think that this kind of measures should also be taken rapidly in our country and compliance of parents with applications related with window safety will decrease the mortality to a great extent.…”