Citation

Johnson CF, Ericson AK, Caniano D. Pediatr. Emerg. Care 1990; 6(1): 58-61.

Affiliation

Department of Pediatrics, Ohio State University, Columbus.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1990, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2320488

Abstract

During one year, four (6.5%) of the 61 children who were hospitalized for burns at a children's hospital sustained their injuries in a baby walker. Records from a total of nine children hospitalized with walker burns were compared to those from other hospitalized burned children. Patients who were burned while in a walker had a greater body surface area burned (11.6%) than those with burns from abuse (1.7%), neglect (2.5%), or other accidents (6.2%). A higher percentage of males were burned, and the burn patterns differed among all four groups. Seven of the nine walker burns resulted from scalds, with three scalds from hot grease. Walker-related burn patients required more physical or occupational therapy and a longer mean hospital stay. Social histories of infants with walker and other accidental burns differed from those associated with abuse or neglect. Walkers expose infants to unnecessary hazards, including potentially serious burns; their use should be discouraged.

Language: en