Measuring the effectiveness of a car seat program in an urban, level one pediatric trauma center

Abstract Background Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are a significant safety issue in the United States. Young children are disproportionally impacted by car accidents and suffer high rates of injuries and mortality. When used properly, car seats have been found to reduce the severity of injuries. However, individuals from low-income areas often do not have access to education or car seats compared to those in suburban or higher income areas. Therefore, the goal of the present study was to measure the effectiveness of a car seat program in an urban, Level I Pediatric Trauma Center on caregiver car seat knowledge. Methods Caregivers (N = 200) attended a single, one-hour car seat educational program with a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST). The sessions included educational and hands-on components, where caregivers were asked to complete a seven-item pre-post knowledge assessment. For completion of the course, caregivers received a car seat for their child. Results A paired t-test revealed that the workshop significantly increased caregiver knowledge from pre-post: t (199) = − 12.56, p < .001; d = 1.27. McNemar’s Chi-Square analyses displayed that caregivers increased in all knowledge categories (p < .001). Conclusions While caregivers in urban areas or in low-income areas may have less access to resources, hospital-led car seat courses can increase knowledge of proper car seat usage in these communities. These findings should be used to establish programs in hospitals in areas where these resources are not readily available to caregivers.

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Usefulness of Pelvic Radiographs in the Initial Trauma Evaluation with Concurrent CT: Is Additional Radiation Exposure Necessary?

International Journal of Pediatrics ◽

10.1155/2018/6260954 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-4 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Anne K. Misiura ◽

Autumn D. Nanassy ◽

Jacqueline Urbine

Keyword(s):

Trauma Center ◽

Pediatric Trauma ◽

Trauma Patients ◽

Additional Information ◽

Pelvic Radiographs ◽

Pelvic Radiograph ◽

Digital Radiograph ◽

Urban Level ◽

Level I ◽

Pediatric Trauma Center

Trauma patients in a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center may undergo CT of the abdomen and pelvis with concurrent radiograph during initial evaluation in an attempt to diagnose injury. To determine if plain digital radiograph of the pelvis adds additional information in the initial trauma evaluation when CT of the abdomen and pelvis is also performed, trauma patients who presented to an urban Level I Pediatric Trauma Center between 1 January 2010 and 7 February 2017 in whom pelvic radiograph and CT of the abdomen and pelvis were performed within 24 hours of each other were analyzed. A total of 172 trauma patients had pelvic radiograph and CT exams performed within 24 hours of each other. There were 12 cases in which the radiograph missed pelvic fractures seen on CT and 2 cases in which the radiograph suspected a fracture that was not present on subsequent CT. Furthermore, fractures in the pelvis were missed on pelvic radiographs in 12 of 35 cases identified on CT. Sensitivity of pelvic radiograph in detecting fractures seen on CT was 65.7% with a 95% confidence interval of 47.79-80.87%. Results suggest that there is no added diagnostic information gained from a pelvic radiograph when concurrent CT is also obtained, a practice which exposes the pediatric trauma patient to unnecessary radiation.

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Toward a Comprehensive Emergency Medical System for Children

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.86.1.120 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 86 (1) ◽

pp. 120-122

Author(s):

J. Alex Haller

Keyword(s):

Trauma Center ◽

Injury Severity ◽

Pediatric Trauma ◽

Trauma System ◽

Objective Evaluation ◽

The United States ◽

The State ◽

Levels Of Care ◽

Emergency Medical ◽

Pediatric Trauma Center

Systems management of life-threatening injuries in children and adults is now accepted as state-of-the-art by those who care for trauma victims in the United States and Canada. A few regional trauma systems for adults have had several decades of experience and have recently served as models for inclusion of pediatric trauma.1 In certain instances, notably the state of Pennsylvania, an emergency medical services (EMS) system has come into being with fully integrated adult and children's components. That the National Pediatric Trauma Registry includes more than 12 000 children is indicative of the significant problem of trauma in childhood; the Registry has provided a necessary base for statistical analysis of injury severity and long-term rehabilitation needs.2 Since 1985, several federally funded state demonstration grants for EMS for children (EMSC) have attempted to establish guidelines for patient care and to suggest methods of ongoing monitoring of the effectiveness of these systems, surveillance of quality, and review of patient outcome. A statewide designated pediatric trauma center for Maryland located in The Johns Hopkins Children's Center has been functional for 12 years.3 Data are now available for objective evaluation of the effectiveness and impact of this regional pediatric trauma program. The level of compliance within Maryland's regionalized pediatric trauma system from 1979 through 1986 was recently examined using hospital discharge abstract data routinely recorded for all discharges from 58 acute care hospitals in the state of Maryland.4 Compliance with regionalization was measured by examining (1) the proportion of patients with injuries of varying injury severity scores5,6 who were treated at each of three levels of care (statewide pediatric trauma center, regional trauma center, and community hospital) and (2) the proportion of in-hospital deaths occurring at each level of care.

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Three-Wheel and Four-Wheel All-Terrain Vehicle Injuries in Children

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.84.4.694 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 84 (4) ◽

pp. 694-698

Author(s):

Margaret A. Dolan ◽

Jane F. Knapp ◽

Jody Andres

Keyword(s):

Motor Skills ◽

Trauma Center ◽

Injury Severity ◽

Pediatric Trauma ◽

Common Factors ◽

The United States ◽

High Incidence ◽

Level I ◽

Serious Injuries ◽

Pediatric Trauma Center

In January 1988, sales of new three-wheel all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) were banned in the United States because of the high incidence of injury associated with their use, especially by children. Four-wheel ATVs remain on the market. A retrospective review of all ATV injuries seen in a level I pediatric trauma center was conducted to compare the nature and severity of injuries in three-wheel vehicles with those associated with four-wheelers. A total of 36 ATV injuries were seen from April 1986 to August 1988. All patients were < 16 years of age; 72% were ≤12 years of age. Of the patients, 56% were boys; 44% were girls. Although 56% of incidents involved three-wheelers, a larger number of more serious injuries, defined as the presence of indicators of injury severity (eg, death, Injury Severity Score ≥10, intensive care unit admission, or need for surgery), involved four-wheel vehicles. A total of 15 injuries occurred in 1987; 12 injuries, including the first death involving an ATV at the pediatric trauma center, occurred in the 7 months since the sales ban. Immature judgment and/or motor skills were the most common factors contributing to injury. Existing information regarding injuries involving three-wheel ATVs is supported by our data, according to which it is suggested that four-wheel vehicles may be dangerous in the hands of immature or unskilled operators < 16 years of age. Injury prevention efforts should be directed at prohibiting any ATV use by persons < 16 years of age.

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Children in Car Crashes: Analysis of Data for Injury and Use of Restraints

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.93.6.960 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 93 (6) ◽

pp. 960-965 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Carden Johnston ◽

Frederick P. Rivara ◽

Robert Soderberg

Keyword(s):

Risk Factor ◽

Motor Vehicle ◽

The United States ◽

School Age ◽

Front Seat ◽

Injury Rates ◽

Car Seats ◽

Car Seat ◽

Car Crashes ◽

Seating Position

Objective. To determine the effect of car restraints on motor vehicle injury rates for children aged 0 to 14 years. Methods. A probability sample of all police-reported car crashes in the United States in 1990 and 1991 was analyzed for injury rates of passengers aged less than 15 years in relation to restraint usage, age, and seating position. Results. Optimal restraint usage (defined as car seats for children 0 to 4 years old and lap shoulder belts for children 5 to 14 years old) was 40%. The use of the car seat was 76% for infants (0 to 12 months old) and 41% for toddlers (1 to 4 year olds). The non use of a restraint was highest for 10 to 14 year olds (43%). The rate of involvement in car crashes for all children was 21.4 (per 1000/yr). The highest rate was the 14 year olds with 29.6 followed by 2 year olds with 26.5. Injury rates were 4.76 (per 1000/yr) for all children. The lowest rate was 2.91 for infants but increased to 4.78 for 3 year olds. The single strongest risk factor for injury was the non use of a restraint. (Adjusted odds ratio 2.7; 95% CI 2.4 to 3.0.) The risk factor for injury for the front seat was 1.5 (95% CI 1.4 to 1.7). Use of the car seat reduced injuries by 60% for 0 to 4 year olds, whereas the lap shoulder harness was only 38% effective for 5 to 14 year olds (P ≤ .001) Injury rates of unrestrained 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 year olds were similar. Conclusions. Greater involvement in car crashes and less use of car restraints explains the 64% higher rate of injury for 3 year olds than for infants. It is time to target the toddlers. Restraints designed for adults are not as effective for the school age child as car seats are for the preschool child. A better restraint for the school age child should be designed and evaluated. Meanwhile, increased usage of current restraints must be encouraged, as they substantially reduce injuries.

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Developmentally Disabled Children Recycle Car Seats: A Win-Win Program

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.91.3.659 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 91 (3) ◽

pp. 659-661

Author(s):

LAWRENCE R. BERGER ◽

LORRAINE M. BENALLY ◽

WILLIAM ROBSON ◽

LENORA M. OLSON

Keyword(s):

Native American ◽

Native Americans ◽

Motor Vehicle ◽

The United States ◽

Motor Vehicles ◽

White Children ◽

Car Seats ◽

Car Seat ◽

Occupant Injuries ◽

American Children

Injuries are the leading cause of death for Native Americans from age 1 to 44 years, accounting for 63% of all deaths in that age range.1 Motor vehicles are responsible for 55% of all Native American injury deaths.2 Among Native American children 1 to 14 years of age, the death rate from motor-vehicle occupant injuries (6.9/100 000 per year) is more than double that of white children in the United States (3.3/100 000 per year).3 To help reduce this toll, both the Indian Health Service (IHS) and individual tribes have initiated car seat loaner programs. Because of widespread poverty—the unemployment rate is as high as 80% in some Native American communities—no fees or deposits are collected in many of these programs.

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Using Weather, Lunar Cycles, and Time of Year to Predict Trauma Incidents in an Urban, Level I Pediatric Trauma Center

Journal of Trauma Nursing ◽

10.1097/jtn.0000000000000565 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 84-89

Author(s):

Ross Budziszewski ◽

Autumn Nanassy ◽

Erika Lindholm ◽

Harsh Grewal ◽

Rajeev Prasad

Keyword(s):

Trauma Center ◽

Pediatric Trauma ◽

Lunar Cycles ◽

Urban Level ◽

Level I ◽

Time Of Year ◽

Pediatric Trauma Center

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Pediatric Pelvic Fractures: A Marker for Injury Severity

The American Surgeon ◽

10.1177/000313480607200604 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 72 (6) ◽

pp. 481-484 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Lisa Spiguel ◽

Loretto Glynn ◽

Donald Liu ◽

Mindy Statter

Keyword(s):

Pelvic Fracture ◽

Trauma Center ◽

Motor Vehicle ◽

Pediatric Trauma ◽

Operative Management ◽

Pelvic Fractures ◽

Associated Injuries ◽

Level I ◽

The University ◽

Pediatric Trauma Center

Pelvic fractures comprise a small number of annual Level I pediatric trauma center admissions. This is a review of the University of Chicago Level I Pediatric Trauma Center experience with pediatric pelvic fractures. This is a retrospective review of the University of Chicago Level I Pediatric Trauma Center experience with pediatric pelvic fractures during the 12-year period from 1992 to 2004. From 1992 to 2004, there were 2850 pediatric trauma admissions. Thirteen patients were identified with pelvic fractures; seven were boys and six were girls. The average age was 8 years old. The mechanism of injury in all cases was motor vehicle related; 11 patients (87%) sustained pedestrian-motor vehicle crashes. According to the Torode and Zeig classification system, type III fractures occurred in eight patients (62%) and type IV fractures occurred in six patients (31%). Associated injuries occurred in eight patients (62%). Seven of these patients (88%) had associated injuries involving two or more organ systems. Of the associated injuries, additional orthopedic injuries were the most common, occurring in 62 per cent of our patients. Neurological injuries occurred in 54 per cent of patients, vascular injuries in 39 per cent, pulmonary injuries in 31 per cent, and genitourinary injuries in 15 per cent. Five patients (38%) were treated operatively; only two patients underwent operative management directly related to their pelvic fracture. The remaining three patients underwent operative management of associated injuries. The mortality rate was 0 per cent. Although pelvic fractures are an uncommon injury in pediatric trauma patients, the morbidity associated with these injuries can be profound. The majority of pelvic fractures in children are treated nonoperatively, however, more than one-half of these patients have concomitant injuries requiring operative management. When evaluating and treating pediatric pelvic fractures, a systematic multidisciplinary approach must be taken to evaluate and prioritize the pelvic fracture and the associated injuries.

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Outcome in an Urban Pediatric Trauma System with Unified Prehospital Emergency Medical Services Care

Prehospital and Disaster Medicine ◽

10.1017/s1049023x00041601 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 19-23 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Michael J. VanRooyen ◽

Edward P. Sloan ◽

John A. Barrett ◽

Robert F. Smith ◽

Hernan M. Reyes

Keyword(s):

Head Injury ◽

Mortality Rate ◽

Trauma Center ◽

Pediatric Trauma ◽

Trauma System ◽

Age Groups ◽

Mortality Rates ◽

Trauma Centers ◽

Field Triage ◽

Pediatric Trauma Center

AbstractHypothesis:Pediatric mortality is predicted by age, presence of head trauma, head trauma with a low Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, a low Pediatric Trauma Score (PTS), and transport directly to a pediatric trauma center.Population:Studied were 1,429 patients younger than 16 years old admitted to or declared dead on arrival (DOA) in a pediatric trauma center from January through October, 1988. The trauma system, which served 3-million persons, included six pediatric trauma centers.Methods:Data were obtained by a retrospective review of summary statistics provided to the Chicago Department of Health by the pediatric trauma centers.Results:Overall mortality was 4.8% (68 of 1429); 32 of the patients who died (47.1%) were DOA. The in-hospital mortality rate was 2.6%. Head injury was the principal diagnosis in 46.2% of admissions and was a factor in 72.2% of hospital deaths. The mortality rate was 20.3% in children with a GCS≤10 and 0.4% when the GCS was >10 (odds ratio [OR] = 67.0, 95% CI = 15.0–417.4). When the PTS was ≤ 5, mortality was 25.6%; with a PTS > 5, the mortality was 0.2% (OR = 420.7, 95% CI = 99.3–2,520). Although transfers to a pediatric trauma center accounted for 73.6% of admissions, direct field triage to a pediatric trauma center was associated with a 3.2 times greater mortality risk (95% CI = 1.58–6.59). Mortality rates were equal for all age groups. Pediatric trauma center volume did not influence mortality rates.Conclusions:Head injury and death occur in all age groups, suggesting the need for broad prevention strategies. Specific GCS and PTS values that predict mortality can be used in emergency medical services (EMS) triage protocols. Although the high proportion of transfers mandates systemwide transfer protocols, the lower mortality in these patients suggests appropriate EMS field triage. These factors should be considered as states develop pediatric trauma systems.

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