Citation

Sacks JJ, Smith JD, Kaplan KM, Lambert DA, Sattin RW, Sikes RK. J. Am. Med. Assoc. JAMA 1989; 262(12): 1641-1645.

Affiliation

Division of Injury Epidemiology and Control, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA 30333.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, American Medical Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2769919

Abstract

From June 1987 through May 1988, we collected reports of injuries among 5,300 children who attended 71 day-care centers in Atlanta, Ga. One hundred forty-three injuries severe enough for the child to require medical or dental care were reported, including 63 lacerations (44.1%), 23 fractures (16.1%), 5 crush injuries (3.5%), 4 dislocations (2.8%), 2 human bites (1.4%), and 2 concussions (1.4%). The head was the site of 98 (68.5%) injuries. Peak hours for injuries were 11 AM and 4 PM, the peak day was Monday, and the peak season was summer. After adjustment for hours and dates of attendance, the rate was 1.77 injuries per 100,000 child-hours in day care; among preschool-aged children, infants had the lowest rate (0.77) and 2-year-old children had the highest rate (2.26). Almost 47% of injuries occurred on the playground; falls were involved in 70% of such injuries. Because 33% of all injuries resulted from falls on the playground, impact-absorbing playground surfaces may be a possible intervention to reduce injuries.