TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2000//
TI  - Injuries associated with falls from beds
JO  - Injury prevention
A1  - Macgregor, D. M.
SP  - 291
EP  - 292
VL  - 6
IS  - 4
N2  - OBJECTIVES: To assess the severity of injuries due to falls from upper bunks and lower beds and cots, and to ascertain the age group most at risk of such injuries. SETTING: The accident and emergency (A&E) department in the Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital which has the only paediatric A&E department in the north east of Scotland, serving a catchment area of over half a million people. METHODS: All children attending with an injury sustained due to a fall from a bed or top bunk over five months had their case notes reviewed by the author. RESULTS: Eighty five children were identified, a majority of whom were reported to have fallen out of bed while sleeping. Twenty five sustained a fracture, 27 a head injury, 12 a laceration requiring treatment, and 21 sustained a soft tissue injury to a limb. Fourteen (16%) required admission. Sixty six (78%) of the injuries occurred in children under the age of 6 years. CONCLUSION: These results show a higher incidence of significant injury than previously reported, and demonstrate the inadvisability of letting children under the age of 6 years sleep in upper bunks. In an attempt to make parents more aware of the risks it is recommended that these dangers should be brought to public attention.
LA  - en
SN  - 1353-8047
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -