There’s no greater fear in any parent than their child getting injured, and studies have shown that tricycles are not as safe as they appear for two-year olds, so it’s advised that they be careful of the toys the buy for their kids and how they use them.
A new study conducted by researchers at the Medical College of Georgia and Emory University, have uncovered the unfortunate truth that thousands of children are sent to the emergency room every year due to injuries suffered after riding tricycles, most at the age of 2 years old.
Over 9,000 injuries have been reported in 2012 and 2013, or almost 5,000 each year depending on the source, some rare cases where accidents have led to death. However rare the occurrence, it does happen and even a small percentage should be considered with caution by parents with young children.
According to the researchers, skin gashes were the most common type of injury, that were fortunately non-fatal, and the children’s heads were the most common location. The latter could provide to be a highly dangerous place for young kids with fragile skulls to develop an injury, and it has led to 3% of the cases being hospitalized after falling from their tricycles.
The more serious accidents had seen to amputated limbs, fractures or even internal organ damage from what seems like a very innocent toy. Between 2010 to 2014, there have been 9 cases of young children suffering fatal accidents linked to tricycles, most of which were due to riding them near pools or bodies or water.
Other causes were also lethal head injuries after fall or being hit by cars when the little bikes couldn’t be seen crossing the street. Those are very rare cases, and 96% of the injuries linked to tricycles have the children safely sent home after treatment, but they do happen.
There are preventive measures and certain cautions that should be taken that do not imply a complete and utter ban for the child to ever use the toy. According to lead author of the study, Sean Bandzar, the environment through which the little tykes ride their tricycles on should be supervised by parents.
For example, they should not be allowed to ride around paths that lead to bodies of water, or close to traffic, along with the natural accessories such as the highly important helmet. It could potentially save their life or spare them grave injury from what seems to be like a harmlessly low height.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advise that parents should be cautious in buying their children tricycles under the age of 3 years old, as their balance and coordination have not properly developed. The safest route is to go with a model that is low to the ground and with big wheels under firm supervision.
Image source: design-site.net
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