MMWR: Pedal-Cycle Injuries Among Children Aged <6 Years-Wisconisn, 2002-2004

The CDC has released a MMWR on Pedal-Cycle Injuries Among Children under the age of 6. The report looked at Emergency Department visits and found that during 2002-2004, a reported 2,046 visits were associated with a pedal-cycle injury of a child aged <6 years. This comes out to an annual incidence rate of 16.7 per 100,000-population aged <6 years. Head and neck injuries were the predominant category of injury in young cyclists. The profile of the Emergency visits listed 69.9% boys, 30.4% girls, with injuries occurring more frequently during April to September. The youngest patient was aged 11 months, and the number of visits increased with age.

The report urges proper use of helmets and safe bicycle techniques. Also, children aged <1 year should not be transported on a pedal cycle because they lack the necessary head strength to support a helmet. This report suggests that perhaps with effective injury prevention strategies for young children, it might provide the foundation needed for safe cycling behaviors, thereby reducing future pedal-cycle injuries.

To read the full report, click here.