Go Cart Safety for Children
Riding and driving go carts must be thrilling. But the thrill comes with an element of risk. In a study of 18 children (I know, measly sample size) admitted to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C., researchers found the following:
1. Kids ended up in hospital emergency rooms after
- crashing
- rolling the go-cart over
- getting pinned between a go-cart and a tree
- being ejected from the vehicle and then being struck by a second go-cart
2. Riding with an adult didn’t ensure a child’s safety. Five of the 18 children in the study were injured after
- standing on the go-cart frame while an older person drove
- being ejected from the vehicle while riding in the driver’s lap
3. Among these children,
- 22% were admitted for head injuries
- 17% had serious injuries to the face and neck
- 28% had injuries to the torso
- 28% had injuries to the arms
- 39% had injuries to the legs
4. Of the 14 patients whose helmet status was known
- 71% had not worn a helmet
- four of these children had closed head injuries
- 28% of the children were injured as passengers
Experts advise that go-cart drivers be at least 12 years old and weigh 80 pounds or more before getting behind the wheel. I fit these criteria but I doubt I’ll be getting on a go cart anytime soon.
Forbes.com, November 30, 2005
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POSTED IN: Children's Toys
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