Shopping Cart Injuries:
Victims 5 years old
and younger
- An annual average of 21,600 children 5 years old and younger were
treated in US hospital emergency rooms for shopping cart injuries
during the years 1985-1996
- There has been a significant increase in the estimated number of
these injuries between 1985 and 1996.
- In 1996 there were 22,200 injuries versus 16,900 in 1985.
- An annual average of 12,800 of these children were treated for
falls from the carts.
- There has been a significant increase in the number of fall
injuries between 1985 and 1996.
- There has been a decline in other hazard patterns over these
years.
- In 1996 there were over 16,000 injuries from falls versus 7,800
in 1985.
- A detailed analysis of the incidents during 1995 and 1996 showed
that 66 percent of the fall victims were treated for head
injuries (11,000 per year).
- This analysis of data from 1995 and 1996 also showed that 54
percent of the head injury victims suffered severe injuries such
as concussions and fractures (5940 per year).
- A special investigation study in 1994 showed that 51 percent of
the fall victims fell from the seat and 49 percent fell from the
basket.