Childhood Farm Injury: The Role of the Physician in Prevention

  • Davis, Jr., J. B.;
  • Howell, C. G.;
  • Parrish, R.
More Like This

AUTHOR ABSTRACT

Farm-related trauma occurs in more than 25,000 children per year with almost 300 patients dying from these preventable injuries. The incidence of associated farm-machinery injuries and fatalities is increasing at an alarming rate with the majority occurring in young boys during the summer months. Between 1979-1985, 234 patients with traumatic injuries were admitted to our Pediatric Surgery Service. Seven of these, six boys and one girl, age ranges from 2-15 years were treated for severe far -related injuries. Modified injury severity score was calculated with an average score of 31.5 (range 9-66). Four patients sustained or required amputation of a major extremity(ies) as a result of the injury. The patients had multiple long bone fractures with associative neurological or abdominal injury. One patient exsanguinated from massive liver lacerations. Five of the six surviving patients are disabled to varying degrees because of the injuries. This report provides support for the establishment of federal safety standards for farm-related equipment. Guidelines for prevention are outlined. We believe that the child physician is obligated to encourage education programs in farming communities on safety measures and further should endorse the application for farms.

JOURNAL AND NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE ID#

JOURNAL: Am Surg. 1988; 54(4): 192- 194.

Note: American Surgeon.

NLOM ID#: 88181843 .

This document was extracted from the CDC-NIOSH Epidemiology of Farm Related Injuries: Bibliography With Abstracts, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

We are unable to supply copies of the full report cited in this entry. Readers are advised to use the following sources:

  • Author or publisher: articles are frequently available from the author or publisher.
  • Medical or other research libraries: these facilities often have the material on hand or know where it can be obtained. If available, each journal entry includes the appropriate National Library of Medicine unique identification number to aid in interlibrary loan requests.
  • Government: some U.S. Government-sponsored research reports, including ones out-of print, are available from the National Technical Information Service, U.S. Department of Commerce.

Disclaimer and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not represent NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears by permission of the author and/or copyright holder. More

BACK TO TOP