Citation

Pomerantz WJ, Gardner D, Gittelman MA. J. Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2016; 81(4 Suppl 1 Forging New Frontiers: The 20th Annual Conference of the Injury Free): S3-S7.

Affiliation

From the Division of Emergency Medicine (W.J.P., M.A.G.) and the Comprehensive Children's Injury Center (D.G.), Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/TA.0000000000001180

PMID

27488482

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Safety equipment installed in the home can reduce pediatric injuries. The purpose of this study was to compare the proper use of home safety equipment after installed by an injury prevention specialist to equipment installed by a family after distribution at a daycare.

METHOD: A prospective study involving two daycare organizations from a high-risk community was performed. In both groups consisted of families with children 4-24 months old who received a packet containing: cabinet and drawer latches, CO detector, magnetic phone list, and 5 other items. After obtaining consent, both groups completed a pre-screen survey to determine current equipment use. The self-installation group (SI) from one daycare, received home safety equipment and education for self-installation of the equipment. The professional installation group (PI) from a comparable daycare, received the same equipment and education; however equipment was installed for them. Assessments of equipment usage and maintenance were performed at follow-up home visits 6-9 months after equipment disbursement. Frequencies and Chi Square analysis was used for comparisons.

RESULTS: 79 SI families and 81 PI families were enrolled. There was no difference in home equipment use between the groups prior to interventions with CO detectors (11.4% vs. 12.3%), cabinet locks (2.5% vs 11.1%), drawer locks (0% vs. 2.5%) or posted emergency numbers (24.1% vs 19.8%). Follow-up home visits occurred in 71(87.7%) SI families and 75 (92.6%) PI families. There was a significant increased use in both groups of CO detectors (73.2% vs. 89.3%, p=0.02), cabinet locks (38.0% vs 78.7%, p<0.001) and drawer locks (22.5% vs 62.7%, p<0.001); posted emergency number increased in both groups but the difference was not significant (78.9% vs 89.3%, p=0.11).

CONCLUSION: When provided with home safety equipment it is used much of the time, however equipment installed by a professional resulted in higher use than if self-installed. For some equipment, distribution of products in daycare settings may be just as effective as if professionally installed.

Language: en