One of the remarkable Kid Captains (Cal Kunnert) featured at an Iowa football game this season was treated at University of Iowa Children's Hospital for injuries he sustained while riding an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) at his home. ATVs used both on and off the road have a high propensity for crashing, and the injuries could lead to a lifetime of disability, or death.
Charles Jennissen, MD, director for pediatric emergency medicine in the Department of Emergency Medicine, talks about ATV accidents:
Why do ATVs have a higher crash rate than any other vehicle on the market?
ATV crashes, injuries, and related deaths have become an alarmingly increasing problem over the past 15 years. ATVs are usually used over rough and unpredictable terrain with holes and slopes that make various crashes more likely to occur.
The engine sizes of ATVs have become larger over recent years and now can travel up to speeds of 75 miles per hour. Roll-overs are a very common due to:
- High speeds
- Difficulty in turning the ATV
- Vehicle's relatively high center of gravity.
Another major problem is ATVs on roadways, which is illegal. But many deaths occur when a motor vehicle hits an ATV traveling along or crossing the road.
Why are ATVs especially dangerous for children?
Many children are allowed to operate ATVs when they are not developmentally ready to do so. Many may be fine driving an ATV as long as everything goes along without a hitch, but when something unexpected occurs or they become distracted, children often make bad decisions which often result in an ATV crash and an injury.
Another problem is that children often drive ATVs with passengers with them, even though almost all ATVs are not designed to carry passengers. This increases the chance for a crash. In fact, it is illegal on public land in Iowa to have a passenger on an ATV.
Are there ways parents can help children drive ATVs more safely?
- First of all, children should drive only ATVs that are the right size for them. Manufacturers have strict guidelines that children 6 to 12 years of age only drive ATVs with engines less than 75 cc in size. Those 12 to 16 should drive ATVs with engines of 90 cc in size or less.
- Second, they should enforce a strict helmet use policy for each and every ride and encourage the use of other protective gear.
- Third, parents should never allow other passengers on an ATV.
- Fourth, if your child is less than 16, enroll them in an ATV safety course.
- Lastly, parents should provide close adult supervision of their children whenever they are driving ATVs.
What kind of injures are common in an ATV accident?
Head injuries are very frequent and a common cause of death. That is why strict use of an ATV helmet is so important.
It's also very difficult for an operator straddling an ATV to clear themselves from the vehicle during a rollover, more so than on a dirt bike or even a motorcycle. The ATV is much more likely to strike the person during a crash or even pin them.
Given the larger and heavier ATVs being driven today, injuries to the chest and the abdomen are seen more often and they're more severe than in the past.
When a child arrives in our emergency treatment center as a result of an ATV accident, what steps are taken by the medical team?
The trauma team and designated pediatric specialists will be activated prior to the child's arrival. This allows the team to be prepared and be physically waiting for the child in one of our new trauma bays, so we can quickly assess them for life-threatening problems and intervene with treatment if necessary.
We have a social worker stationed in the Emergency Treatment Center 24 a day, who is notified at the same time as the trauma team, so they can provide assistance to family members before and after their arrival to the trauma center.
How does pediatric trauma differ from adults?
Children are unique in how they respond to trauma both physically and emotionally compared to adults. Specialized equipment designed just for the pediatric patient is often needed. Expertise in assessing and treating injured children is vital in obtaining the optimal outcomes and that's what we can provide at The University of Iowa.
The University of Iowa Trauma Center is the first and only trauma center in the state to earn a Level I verification for its pediatric service from the American College of Surgeons. What does that verification mean to parents and children when they come to the emergency room?
It should help put parents at ease and reassure them that their child is being taken care of at a center that has been verified to meet and surpass the highest standards of care set for the treatment of pediatric trauma patients in the United States. In fact, pediatric emergency care at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital was recently ranked fifth in the country by Parent's magazine and reflects the high level of pediatric trauma care that we provide there. |
