KIDS AT RISK FOR ELEVATOR INJURIES
A recent study reports that nearly 2,000 American children and teenagers are injured on elevators each year, typically by doors closing on them. Most injuries involved bruises, scrapes, sprains and strain on the arms, hands, elbows, wrists and/or fingers. Two percent of the injured were hospitalized.
More than one quarter of injured children were one or two years old. Kids that age have begun walking and are becoming more independent, but they they may not yet know how to stay safe on elevators. Pediatrician Joseph O'Neil, M.D., MPH authored the study and pointed out that "Young children, especially younger than 5 years of age, often lack the strength, coordination, balance and protective reflexes needed to avoid an elevator-related injury."
O'Neil offers the following tips for elevator safety:
* Young children should be closely supervised in or near elevators.
* Passengers of any age should use caution when entering or exiting an elevator.
* Parents and caregivers should be encouraged to set an example by not trying to prevent an elevator door from closing.
* Elevator doors should be adjusted to sense light pressure from a child and open in response.
