ACCIDENTS TO RURAL OHIO PEOPLE OCCURRING DURING RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES

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1 EXTENSION BULLETIN MM-29~ RESEARCH CIRCULAR 166 / JANUARY 1969 ACCIDENTS TO RURAL OHIO PEOPLE OCCURRING DURING RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES G. Howard Phillips Associate fessor, Rural Sociology and W. E. Stuckey Leader, Safety and Emergency Preparedness Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology Ohio Agricultural Research and velopment Center Wooster, Ohio Cooperative Extension Service The Ohio State University

2 PREFACE This study was a part of a larger study reporting all accidents to Ohio farm and rural nonfarm. people living outside of incorporated places in Information concerning the larger study may be found in Research Bulletin 1016 of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center and Ohio Cooperative Extension Service Bulletin 500. MM /1700 The Ohio State University coopers.ting 'With the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, Roy M. Kottman, Director, Columbus, Ohio Distributed in furthers.nee of Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914.

3 ACCIDENTS TO RURAL OHIO PEOPL.E OCCURRING DURING RECRFATIONAL ACTIVITIES By G. Howard.Ehillips and w. E. stuckey A growing population and a shorter work week finds more and more people engaged in recreational pursuits. This study was primarily designed to determine the number, severity and types of accidents occurring to rural. Ohio people while participating in some type of recreational activities. Recreational pursuits are viewed in this study as activities such as baseball, football, basketball, unorganized play, gym classes, playground. activities, wrestling, skating, horseback riding and bicycling. Of the total accidents occurring to rural people in Ohio in 1967 (199, 691) 21.6 percent or 43,071 happened during recreational pursuits. Average days lost due to recreational accidents (4.0) were far below that for all accidents (10.6) to farm people or rural nonfarm people (5.5). This suggests that accidents from recreation were not as serious as were all other accidents. This is borne out by the average cost for recreational accidents ($75.14) which was considerably less than the average for all farm accidents ($217.30) and. rural nonfarm accidents ($163.29). No property damage was noted for this category and hired help was below the average for all accidents. Table 1 depicts the breakdown for the total recreational-related accidents and specifically for bicycles and horses. Accidents involving bicycles and horses will be discussed individually at a later point in this report. Table 1 NUMBER OF DAYS LOST AND COST OF RECREATIONAL ACCIDENTS, INCLUDING BICYCLE AND HORSE, OCCURRING TO RURAL OHIO PEOPLE LIVING OUTSIDE INCORPORATED PIACFB, 1967 Horses Total Horses Number of Accidents 5, 29 Iays lost due to accidents 170,228 24,536 61,907 4.o Iays hired to replace lost labor 5, Cost of accidents Medical $ Hired Help 0 Total 48.oB *An accident was defined as an injury to any member of the family who lives at this residence sometime during the year 'Who requires professional medical care (doctor, hospital, nurse, X-ray, etc.) or results in the loss of 1/2 day or more of time from the normal activities of the injured, regardless of where the injury occurred. **Including bicycles and horses.

4 4 WHAT TYPE OF INJURIES OCCURRED? Fractures were the most comm.on type of injury in recreational accidents, occurring in about one out of three cases (35.0%). Cuts were second (31.1%), followed by sprains (18.5%). Cuts were the most numerou$ when all types of accidents occurring to rural people were considered. Table 2 TYPES OF INJURIES OCCURRING WHILE PARTICIPATING IN ALL RECRF.ATIONAL PURSUITS, BICYCLING AND HORSEBACK RIDING TO RURAL PEOPLE LIVING OUTSIDE INCORPORATED PLACES, 1967 Nwnber of Accidents Percent TYPE OF INJURY* Total** Bic cle Horses Total Bic cle Horses Fracture 15,072 2,236 2, o Cut 13,366 3, Sprain 7, Bruise 1, Eye o other o TOTALS *only the one most serious type of injury was reported. **Including bicycles and horses. WHAT WERE THE PEOPLE DOING? Most of the recreational accidents (97.oi) occurred during leisure time but not during regularly scheduled athletic events. The nonleisure, recreational-related accidents (the remaining 3.0~) occurred when persons engaged in recreational service were injured. Only one-third of the recreational related accidents occurred at the residence of the injured. All others (65.4~) occurred away from residence area. Some of the specific cases are noted below to further explain the question: What were the people doing? A 15 year old girl was horseback riding in a field. She suffered a concussion as a result of falling from the horse. Three days were lost from normal activities. A 16 year old boy collided with another player during a football game and suffered a broken nose. One day was lost from normal activities. An 11 year old boy fell from his bicycle which resulted in bruises and a sprain. The child lost two days from normal activities. A 9 year old boy stuck a fish hook in his finger. It required two stitches.

5 5 A 13 year old boy hit a rock while diving in a creek. This accident broke off a tooth which is a permanent injury. HOW DID THE ACCIDENTS OCCUR? In Table 3, the number and percent of recreational accidents occurring in different ways are enumerated.. Striking against some object caused the largest percentage (22.5</o) followed. by falls from a different level (22.4</o). When falls at the same and different levels are combined, they represent the most frequent type of accident. Examples of two types of situations illustrating how accidents occur include: A 13 year old boy who fell while in wrestling class at school and broke his leg. He spent four days in the hospital and four days at home before returning to school; a 57 year old man suffered a fracture when he collided with another person while playing baseball and suffered a fracture. Table 3 NUMBER AND PERCENT OF HOW ACCIDENTS OCCURRED DURING RECRFATIONAL FURSUITS TO OHIO RURAL PEOPLE LIVING OUTSIDE INCORPORATED PIACES, 1967 HOW struck against Fall, different level Fall, same level Collision struck by falling or flying object Cs.ught in or between Slip without fall other TOTAL NUMBER 9,686 9,665 8,505 4,105 3,689 2,285 1,571 3,565 43,071 PERCENT WHAT THINGS WERE INVOLVED? The things or activities involved in recreational-related accidents are enumerated. in Table 4. Bicycles (16.6~) and football activities (13.9</o) were at the top of the list in involvement and horses were third (12.6</o). Playground activities (ll. 9</o) and basketball (10. 71') occupied the fourth and fifth positions of things or activities involved in accidental injuries. These five activities accounted for about two-thirds of the recreational-related. accidents.

6 6 Table 4 NUMBER AND PERCENT OF THINGS OR ACTIVITIES INVOLVED IN IDX::RFATIONAL- REIATED ACCIDENTS TO OHIO RURAL PEOPLE LIVING OUTSIDE OF INCORPORATED PLACES, 1967 THINGS OR ACTIVITY NUMBER PERCENT Bicycle 7, Football 5, Horse 5, Playground 5, Basketball 4, Unorganized Play 3, Baseball 2,605 6.o Gym Class 2, Skating 1, Wrestling 1, other 4, TOTAL 43,on WHO WAS INVOL VED'l Over two-thirds of the accidents (67.3r/o) during recreational pursuits occurred to sons of the family. I:Rughters were involved in the next highest percentage (24.0%). Husbands exceeded their wives in percent of accidents, but both only accounted for 8.7 percent. School age children were involved in a preponderance of recreational accidents as shown in Figure 2 where the 5-14 age group was involved in 56.5 percent of the accidents and the age group was involved in 32.0 percent of the accidents. When all recreational accidents of persons 24 years of age and under were combined, they represented over 88 percent of all the recreational accidents. As startling as these findings are, the direction was not unexpected. However, the magnitude of the accidents to sons in the family and the percent of the young involved in recreational-related accidents was higher than predicted by the authors. The level of involvement in active recreational pursuits appears to decline as would be hy:pothesized as individuals become involved in, occupational and family-rearing pursuits.

7 7 Percent I 2.3 I 0 Husbands Wives Daughters Sons Figure 1. Family members involved in accidents during recreational pursuits, Ohio rural people living outside incorporated places, 1967.

8 8 Percent Under & Over Figure 2. Percent of accidents occurring during recreational pursuits by age group, rural Ohio people living outside incorporated places, 1967.

9 9 WHEN DID ACCIDENTS OCCUR? September was the leading month for recreational accidents {16.3,;) followed by July (11.1~). Figure 3 depicts the percent of recreational-related accidents to rural people by months. These data do not offer concrete reasons why September is the month with the highest incidence of recreational-related accidents. However, conjecture would suggest September is the month school begins where football practices, gym classes, baseball games, and school yard play is in full swing. September is also the month that the last good weather for many weekend recreational activities can be pursued. Percent Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Figure 3. Accidents occurring during recreational pursuits by month, Ohio rural people living outside incorporated places, 1967.

10 10 Bieycle-Related Accidents If one has ever observed a si::x: year old eoy learning to ride a bicycle or his 12 year old brother who throws "caution to the wind," it is easier to comprehend the :fact that among Ohio's rural people in 1967 the bicycle was the one item most often involved in recreational-related accidents. Table 4 reveals 16.6 percent or 7,138 accidents involved bicycles. When these injuries to rural people are considered in relation to all accidents (199, 691) they represent 3.6 percent. As was expected, bicycle accidents are a product of the young. Four out of five injuries occurred to youngsters 14 years old or younger. Over 93 percent of bicycle accidents are accounted for when considering the age category of 24 years and younger. Table 5 depicts bicycle accidents by age categories. Table 5 NUMBER AND PERCENT OF BICYCLE ACCIDENTS BY AGE GROUPS OCCURRING TO OHIO RURAL PEOPLE LIVING OUTSIDE OF INCORPORATED PIACES, 1967 AGE NUMBER PERCENT Under 5 None reported o.o 5-9 3, , ll.4 25 and above None reported o.o No answer TOTAL 7, lialling off the bicycle was the most frequent cause of injury to the riders (4,686 or 65~). The other 2,452 accidents resulted from being caught in or between, struck against, or colliding with another object. Cuts and fractures resulted from about 80 percent of the accidents. Bruises and sprains accounted for the other approximately 20 percent of the mishaps (Table 2). The injuries to bicycle riders were less severe when compared to all recreationalrelated accidents. The average total medical cost was $45.54 per accident compared to $75.14 for all recreational-related accidents (Table l). Da.ys lost from normal activities were al.so less for those sustaining injuries from bicycle accidents (Table 1). Ninety-three percent of the people were "just riding" and the accidents are classified as occurring during leisure time. More than three-fourths occurred when the rider was away from the home premises. Boys are the most likely family member to receive an injury while bicycling. Sons in the rural families accounted for 65 percent 'While the daughters had 34 percent of the accidents. An April 19, 1967 release from the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation observed that bicycling had increased. 105 percent in the United states since The bureau

11 11 also estimated that participation in bike riding would increase by four-fold from 1960 to the year Based on these observations and the data presented in this study, it would appear that accidental injuries involving bicycles a.re likely to increase as society moves toward increased leisure. Accidents Involving Horses Of the 43,071 accidents related to recreation occurring to Ohio rural people in 1967, 12.6 percent involved horses. Accurate data concerning the number of pleasure horses in Ohio are not currently available. However, knowledgeable people in this field suggest they are increasing in number. This is consistent with the trend projected by the United states Bureau of Outdoor Recreation. The 5,429 accidents involving horses -was the third highest cause of injury for those pursuing recreational activities (Table 4). Both bicycles and football accidents exceeded accidents with horses. Most people would agree that more youngsters are spending more time riding bicycles and playing football than they are riding horses. Consequently, this increased exposure was a factor in the larger number of accidents. Injuries sustained from horseback riding were generally more severe than other types of recreational accidents (Table 1 ). Total medical costs per accident involving horses was $ compared to $15.14 for all recreational injuries. The days lost due to accidents were almost three times as great. Fractures were the most frequent type of injury (44.0%) (Table 2). Sprains were also more prevalent. Cuts were the most frequent type of injury to bike riders, but represented only three percent of the injuries to horseback riders. Cutting surfaces are far more limited in horse equipment than bicycle. Thus this finding was not unexpected. Fa.lls from horses accounted for over two-thirds (68.9%) of the accidents. Another 26 percent struck against some object. This often happened by scraping or running into various objects. Table 5 HOW ACCIDENTS INVOLVING HORSES OCCURRED TO OHIO RURAL POOPLE LIVING OUTSIDE INCORPORATED PIACES, 1967 HOW Fal.l, different level Slip caught in or between Struck against Struck by falling or flying object TOTAL Ta.ML 3, , ,429 PERCENT As with all accidents, sons had the highest percentage of accidents involving horses (4o.o~). Iaughters, on the other hand, were involved in 27.0 percent of such accidents in comparison to 24.o percent of all recreational-related accidents

12 12 Sons and daughters accounted for two out of three acci occurring to rural people. dents (Figure 4). Figure 5 depicts the age distribution of persons who suffered injuries from a horse-related accident. As revealed in Figure 5, all the accidents reported occurred to people between 5 and 44 years of age. In comparing Figure 1 with Figure 4 and Figure 2 with Figure 5, it appears horseback riding tends to be one of the recreational activities which attracts more adults 25 years of age and older. Thus, the percent of accidents to husbands and wives and persons 25 years and older is higher th.an in total recreational-related accidents. Percent Husbands Wives Daughters Sons Figure 4. Percent of family members who had accidents caused by horses, Ohio rural people outside incorporated places, As would be expected almost all accidents caused by horses happened during leisure (99.~). 'Jhe predominance (54.~) of these occurred while in a field or lane near the rural. residence. Most accidents involving horses occurred from April through

13 13 September (90% of those reported). Only two percent reported accidents during the months of October throughout March. No month was indicated for eight percent of the accidents. September had the highest incidence of accidents accounting for 25 percent of the accidents reported. No specific explanation can be offered for this occurrence. The Bureau of Outdoor Recreation in Outdoor Recreation Trends (April, 1967) suggested about six percent of the U. S. population 12 years of age and older participated in horseback riding in 1960 and about 8 percent in Assuming Ohio is near the norm for the nation (it is probably higher), and assuming this trend will continue, it is expected accidents involving horses will also increase unless active steps are ta.ken to reduce the associated hazards. Percent o.o o.o o.o Under & Over Figure 5. Percent of accidents caused by horses by age group, Ohio rural people outside incorporated places, 1967.

14 14 Points to ponder relating to recreational accidents occurring in 1967 to Ohio rural people living outside of incorporated places. * Ohio rural people had 43,071 recreational-related accidents in * One out of every four accidents occurring to rural people was recreationally related. * Every day in Ohio, 118 rural people are injured in a recreational accident, 70 of which occurred to children 14 years of age and under. * The severity of these accidents are indicated by an average medical cost of more than $73.00 per accident. Horse-related accidents were very severe with an average medical cost of more than $248.oo per accident. * Fractures were the most frequent tyj?e of injury (35.0%). * Falls (on the same and different levels) caused the largest percentage of recreational-related accidents (42.1%). * Over two-thirds of these accidents occurred to sons in the family. * Children 14 years of age and under accounted for 54.5 percent of the recreational-related accidents. * Bicycles (16.6%), football (13.9%), and horses (12.6%) were the things or activities most frequently involved. * About two-thirds of the accidents occurred away from the residence area (65.4%). * September was the leading month for recreational-related accidents (16.3%). * Cuts were the most frequent type of injury for bike riders and fractures for horseback riders. * Boys and girls 14 years of age and under are the most frequent victims of horse (48.0%) and bicycle {82.1%) accidents. HOW WAS THE STUDY CONDUCTED? The purpose of this study was to measure the incidence of accidents to Ohio rural people during 1967 and to describe the situation in which these accidents occurred. A stratified random sample of 12 of Ohio's 88 counties was selected. Two counties were chosen from each of six geographic areas representing various topographic, climatic conditions and types of farming. The sample counties were selected by random means and are shown in Figure 6. The boundaries of the geographic areas used in the study are also shown in Figure 6.

15 15 Cluster samples of ten or fewer farm* and rural. nonf'arm families living outside of incorporated places were randomly selected in each of the 12 counties. Volunteer interviewers were trained and the sample families were interviewed every three months during 1967 to get a cumulative record of accidents. Four contacts were ma.de during the year to reduce under-reporting due to forgetfulness. The interviewers participated in a three~hour county interviewer training meeting where they were assigned the families they would contact. Fig. 6--Geogrophical distribution of 12 Counties in which study was made. During 1967, 7,260 farm people and 6,215 rural nonf'arm people living outside of incorporated places were interviewed four times during the year. The farm sample represented 14.7 percent of the farm population in the 12 sample counties and 1.9 percent of the total farm population of the state. The rural nonf'arm population living outside of incorporated places was represented by 2.8 percent of the rural nontarm!jopulation in the 12 sample counties and 0.23 percent of the total rural nonf'arm. people of the state. The total farm population in the 12 sample counties represents 12.6 percent of the total Ohio farm population and the total rural nonfarm population in the 12 sample counties represents 8.3 percent of the total Ohio rural nonf'arm population. The data represented in this study is a result of expanding the sample data to the state as a whole. Acknowledgement: This study was made possible by the cooperation of the county Extension agents and volunteer interviewers of the 12 sample counties. The study involved. the cooperation of the Ohio Cooperative Extension Service, the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Department of.agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology at The Ohio state University, The Ohio Farm and Home Safety Committee, Inc., and the Ohio Rural Heal th Council. Special credit should be given to Nationwide Foundation for its financial assistance in developing the statistical analysis. *A farm. family is defined as living on a farm with 10 acres or more and $50 or more products sold; or less than 10 acres with $250 or more products sold.