Pedal Cycle Injuries to Children Aged 0-17 Years Miami-Dade County 2008-2012 Injuries from riding pedal cycles were the eighth leading cause of medically-treated injury to Miami-Dade County children aged 0-17 years in 2012. The majority of pedal cycle injuries resulted in an emergency department visit. Between 2008 & 2012, there were 3,796 emergency department (ED) visits, 224 hospitalizations and 2 deaths from pedal cyclist injuries to children aged 0-17 years. The injury rate for hospitalized pedal cycle injuries (red line) has declined 26% between 2008 & 2012. The injury rate for ED pedal cycle injuries (blue line) increased 6% between 2008 & 2010 but has declined 12% since. Pedal Cycle Injury Rates Hospitalizations and ED Visits Miami-Dade Residents Aged 0-17 Yrs, 2008-2012 145.00 14 135.00 13 125.00 12 115.00 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 ED Rate 134.68 134.42 143.10 130.23 126.56 Hospitalization Rate 9.07 9.08 7.32 7.10 6.71 1 8.00 6.00 4.00 2.00 When Pedal Cycle Injuries Occurred Pedal cycle injury incidence peaked between the hours of 6pm and 9pm where 31% of all injuries occurred. Just over a third of all pedal cycle injuries took place over the weekend.
Hour of Day for Pedal Cycle Injuries Hospitalizations and ED Visits Miami-Dade Residents Aged 0-17 Yrs, 2008-2012 3 30% 2 22% 31% 20% 1 11% 14% 14% 10% 0% 3% 1% 3% Who is At Risk? Children aged 10-14 years had the highest rate of medically-treated pedal cycle injuries. The incidence of pedal cycle injuries peaked at age 13. 25 Pedal Cycle Injury Average Rate by Age Group Hospitalizations & ED Visits Miami-Dade Residents Aged 0-17 Yrs, 2008-2012 20 15 10 68.32 160.33 199.25 138.99 5 0-4 Years 5-9 Years 10-14 Years 15-17 Years
Males aged 10-14 years had the highest rate of medically-treated pedal cycle injuries while the rate for females peaked in the 5-9 year age group. 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 Pedal Cycle Injury Average Rates by Age Group & Gender Hospitalizations and ED Visits Miami-Dade Residents Aged 0-17 Yrs, 2008-2012 49.18 Males Females 86.69 196.00 123.09 303.30 89.63 231.99 41.34 0-4 Years 5-9 Years 10-14 Years 15-17 Years The injury rate for male children was approximately 2.5 times higher than females. There were no significant racial or ethnic differences for pedal cycle injury rates among county children. Pedal Cycle Injury Average Rate by Gender, Race and Ethnicity, Hospitalizations & ED Visits Miami-Dade Residents Aged 0-17 Yrs, 2008-2012 25 20 15 10 5 201.65 78.94 128.19 124.25 142.70 Males Females Hispanic White Non Hispanic African Amercian
Body Region Injured From Pedal Cycle Injuries Overall, upper extremity fractures (23%) and open wounds to the head or neck (13%) were the most common types of pedal cycle injuries among 0 17 year olds, accounting for 36% of all the injuries. Approximately 28% of hospitalizations involved a TBI. Upper extremity fractures (26%) were the next most common injury resulting in a hospitalization. There was no information regarding bicycle helmet use by these patients. Primary Diagnoses for Pedal Cycle Injuries Hospitalizations & ED Visits Children Aged 0-17 Yrs, Miami-Dade Co., 2008-2012 TBI 4% Lower Extremity - Open Wounds Upper Extremity - Superficial/Contusion 6% Upper Head/Face/Neck - Superficial/Contusion 6% Lower Extremity - Superficial/Contusion Upper Head/Face/Neck - Open Wounds Upper Extremity - Fx 8% 13% 23% 0% 10% 1 20% 2 Hospital Charges for Pedal Cycle Injuries, 2012 In 2012, there were 735 pedal cycle injuries to county children treated in Florida hospitals and emergency departments that resulted in more than four million dollars in hospital charges. The median charge for a pedal cycle hospitalization was $26,106 while the median charge for an ED visit was $1,800. 2010 Non-Fatal Pedal Cycle Injuries Pedal Cycle ED Visits Pedal Cycle Hospitalizations Number of Injuries 698 37 Median Hospital Charge $1,800 $26,106 Total Hospital Charges $1,986,469 $2,058,247
Where Pedal Cycle Injuries Occurred Only 10% of all the medically-treated or fatal pedal cycle injuries were traffic-related. Most of the pedal cycle injuries involved a collision with an object or a fall that didn t involve a vehicle. However, traffic-related pedal cycle injuries are a significantly greater issue for children aged 15-17, where 26% of the injuries involved a vehicle in traffic. Traffic, 10% Percentage of Traffic-Related Bicycle Injuries by Age Group Miami-Dade County 2008-2012 30% 2 26% 20% 1 Non Traffic, 90% 10% 0% 1% 9% 0-4 Years 5-9 Years 10-14 Years 15-17 Years Reducing the Risk of Pedal Cycle Injury The following safety tips can help reduce the risk of injury from pedal cycles: Wear a Helmet Not only is it the law, but helmets save lives and decrease head injuries in a crash. Get a helmet with your child s first tricycle or bicycle or if riding with an adult. Buy the helmet when you buy the bike! Kids are more likely to wear a helmet if parents do. The right helmet fits straight on the head and does not move around when buckled Ride Safely Pick a bike that is the right size for your child now, not one they will grow into. Ride during the day - not at dusk or night when it is hard to be seen. Young children should stay on sidewalks until they can judge traffic and obey traffic rules.
Child Passengers Children less than one year of age should not ride as passengers. Only an experienced adult should take a child on a bicycle. Be aware of an altered center of gravity, and longer brake time when carrying a child as a passenger. A rear-mounted seat must have a high back and secure shoulder harness to support a sleeping child. Adults riding with children should stick to parks, bike paths and quiet streets. Produced by the Florida Department of Health - Miami-Dade County DATA SOURCES: Death Certificates, Office of Vital Statistics, FL Dept. of Heath Hospitalization and Emergency Department Data, Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. PHONE: 305-470-5649 E-MAIL: anthony.llau@flhealth.gov WEBSITE: http://dadehealth.org/injury/injuryintro.asp