Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute
4611 Seventh Street South
Arlington, VA 22204-1419 USA
(703) 486-0100
Fax: (703)486-0576
email: info@helmets.org
www.bhsi.org
BHSI is a small, active, non-profit consumer-funded program acting as a clearinghouse and a technical resource for bicycle helmet information.

The Children’s Hospital Injury Prevention Program
(CFN contact) Judy Shaw, Director
The Children’s Hospital
300 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA 02115-5737
(617) 355-8065
shaw@al.tch.harvard.edu
Working in conjunction with community centers and primary care pediatricians, the Injury Prevention Program provides the public with education and information about how to prevent childhood injury by using devices such as bike helmets.

Children's Safety Network
Education Development Center, Inc.
Ed De Vos, Acting Director
Susan Scavo Gallagher, Senior Advisor
55 Chapel Street
Newton, MA 02458-1060
Phone: (617) 969-7100, ext. 2207
Fax: (617) 244-3436
Email: csn@edc.org
CSN provides injury prevention professionals with technical assistance, information, and resources to help integrate injury and violence prevention programs into existing programs, facilitates the development of new injury prevention programs, and conducts research and policy activities that improve the state-of-the-art of injury and violence prevention.

Emergency Medical Services for Children
National Resource Center
111 Michigan Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20010-2970
(202) 884-4927.
www.ems-c.org
EMSC is a national initiative designed to reduce child and youth disability and death due to severe illness or injury.

Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center
Box 359960
325 Ninth Avenue,
Seattle, WA 98104-2499
Phone: 206-521-1520
Fax: 206-521-1562
http://depts.washington.edu/hiprc/
Among other injury-related projects, HIPRC is involved with "Systematic Review of Childhood Injury Prevention Interventions," the aim of which is to provide information to a wide variety of users on what works and what doesn't work for the prevention of injuries to children and adolescents.

Kids Can’t Fly
(CFN contact) Director, Kim Wolski
Childhood Injury Prevention Program
Boston Public Health Commission
1010 Massachusetts Avenue, 2^nd Floor
Boston, MA 02118
(617) 534-5197
Works in conjunction with the Boston Public Health Department and is the lead agency for the Greater Boston SAFEKIDS Coalition to provide education regarding window fall prevention

CSN National Injury and Violence Prevention Resource Center
Education Development Center, Inc.
55 Chapel Street
Newton, MA 02458-1060
Telephone: (617) 969-7101, ext. 2207
Fax: (617) 244-3436
www.edc.org/HHD/csn/
The Children's Safety Network (CSN) National Injury and Violence Prevention Resource Center provides resources and technical assistance to maternal and child health agencies and other organizations seeking to reduce unintentional injuries and violence to children and adolescents.

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
Mailstop K65
4770 Buford Highway NE
Atlanta, GA 30341-3724
(770) 488-1506
Fax: (770) 488-1667
Email: OHCINFO@cdc.gov
The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) is administered by the Centers for Disease Control, and works to reduce morbidity, disability, mortality, and costs associated with injuries.

National Program for Playground Safety
University of Northern Iowa
School for Health Physical Education and Leisure Services
Cedar Falls, Iowa, 50614-0618
(800) 554-PLAY
Email: playground-safety@uni.edu
www.uni.edu/playground
NPPS serves as a public resource for the latest in information on playground safety and injury prevention.

The National SAFE KIDS Campaign
1301 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20004-1707
(202) 662-0600
Fax: (202) 393-2072
http://www.safekids.org
The National SAFE KIDS Campaign works at a national level through grassroots Coalitions to educate adults and children, provide safety devices to families in need, and pass and strengthen laws to empower families and communities to protect children ages 14 and under.

Project SafeSite
11305 Rancho Bernardo Rd. Suite 116.
San Diego, CA 92127.
Safety help line (800) 999-6929.
(619) 674-1370.
Fax (619) 674-4273.
www.projectsafesite.com
Project SafeSite is a Schoolyard Safety Program that grew out of a collaborative effort by Southern California's business community (Motorola) to create a safe learning environment for all students, both state and nationwide.

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Story contacts (The following is a list of people who have already been contacted by CFN and have agreed to speak with the press.)

Judy Shaw, Director
Children’s Hospital Injury Prevention Program
The Children’s Hospital
300 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA 02115-5737
(617) 355-8065
shaw@al.tch.harvard.edu

Kim Wolski, Director
Kids Can’t Fly
Childhood Injury Prevention Program
Boston Public Health Commission
1010 Massachusetts Avenue, 2^nd Floor
Boston, MA 02118
(617) 534-2633

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Experts (The following is a list of people who have already been contacted by CFN and have agreed to speak with the press.)

Jennifer Smith, MSW
Coordinator of Pitt County Safe Communities Program
Eastern Carolina Injury Prevention Program
Pitt County Memorial Hospital
PO Box 6028
Greenville, NC 27835
(252) 816-8688
Relevant area: Childhood injury prevention and bike helmet safety

Dr. Herbert G. Garrison, MD, MPH
Professor of Emergency Medicine
Director, Eastern Carolina Injury Prevention Program
University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina
Eastern Carolina University School of Medicine
Greenville, NC 27858-4354
Relevant area: Childhood injury prevention and bike helmet safety

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Background (The following is a compilation of research, statistics, and clinical data.)

Unintentional Injuries - General

Unintentional injuries result in nearly 70,000 deaths and millions of nonfatal injuries each year. (National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Mailstop K65. 4770 Buford Highway NE. Atlanta, GA 30341-3724. (770)488-1506. Fax: (770)488-1667 Email: OHCINFO@cdc.gov. www.cdc.gov/ncipc.)

For every injury death, there are about 19 hospitalizations, 233 department visits and 450 office-based physician visits for injuries. (Burt, C.W. Injury-Related Visits to Hospital Emergency Departments: United States, 1992. Advance Data, Number 261. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics, February 1, 1995.)

A fatal injury occurs every 6 minutes and a disabling injury occurs every 2 seconds. Wage losses, medical expenses, property damages, employer costs, fire losses and other expenses related to unintentional injuries and fatalities cost Americans an estimated $480.5 billion in 1998. That's equal to 59 cents of every dollar spent on food in the U.S. in 1998. ("Report on Injuries in America." (1998) National Safety Council. 1121 Spring Lake Drive, Itasca, IL 60143-3201. (630) 285-1121; Fax: (630) 285-1315. www.nsc.org)

According to the National Safety Council’s 1998 "Report on Injuries in America," the total number of deaths due to unintentional injuries in 1998 was 92,200. The highest death total was 116,385 in 1969 and the lowest recent death total was 86,777 in 1992 (lowest since 1924). ("Report on Injuries in America." (1998) National Safety Council. 1121 Spring Lake Drive, Itasca, IL 60143-3201. (630) 285-1121; Fax: (630) 285-1315. www.nsc.org)

It is estimated that 90 percent of unintentional injuries can be prevented. (SAFEKIDS Coalition and Campaign, Baystate Medical Center Children’s Hospital, 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA, 01199, (413) 794-5434, www.safekids.org)

Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death in children from 1-21 years of age. (Childhood Injury Fact Sheet. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Mailstop K65. 4770 Buford Highway NE. Atlanta, GA 30341-3724. (770)488-1506. Fax: (770)488-1667 Email: OHCINFO@cdc.gov. www.cdc.gov/ncipc.)

In 1996, unintentional injuries resulted in the death of more than 775 children under age 1, 2,100 children ages 1 to 4, 1,550 children ages 5 to 9, and 1,800 children ages 10 to 14. (SAFEKIDS Coalition and Campaign, Baystate Medical Center Children’s Hospital, 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA, 01199, (413) 794-5434, www.safekids.org)

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death in the United States for people aged 1-24. Drowning is the second leading cause of death due to unintentional injuries among children and young adults (aged 1-24). (Ten Leading Causes of Death Tables, 1994. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 1996.)

Each year between 20 - 25% of all children sustain an injury sufficiently severe to require medical attention, missed school, and/or bed rest. (Childhood Injury Fact Sheet. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Mailstop K65. 4770 Buford Highway NE. Atlanta, GA 30341-3724. (770)488-1506. Fax: (770)488-1667 Email: OHCINFO@cdc.gov. www.cdc.gov/ncipc.)

At least one adolescent (10-19 years old) dies of an injury every hour of every day; about 15,000 die each year. (Runyan CW, Gerken EA. Epidemiology and prevention of adolescent injury: a review and research agenda. JAMA 1989;262:16:2273-2278.)

Injuries kill more adolescents than all diseases combined. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Injury mortality: national summary of injury mortality data 1984-1990. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1993.)

Unintentional injury accounts for around 60% of adolescent injury deaths, while violence (homicide and suicide) accounts for the remaining 40%. (Runyan CW, Gerken EA. Epidemiology and prevention of adolescent injury: a review and research agenda. JAMA 1989;262:16:2273-2278.)

An estimated 220,000 children 14and under are treated in hospital emergency rooms annually for playground equipment related injuries. (Project SafeSite.11305 Rancho Bernardo Rd. Suite 116. San Diego, CA 92127. Safety help line (800) 999-6929. (619) 674-1370. fax (619) 674-4273. www.projectsafesite.com)

Each year in the United States, 200,000 preschool and elementary school children visit

emergency departments for care of injuries sustained on playground equipment—That’s about 1 injury every 2½ minutes. (Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). National Electronic Injury Surveillance System 1990-94. Washington (DC): CPSC. Reference and statistic found on Centers for Disease Control website: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/playgr.htm)

Falls off playground equipment to the ground are the leading contributing factor to playground-related injuries. (Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). National Electronic Injury Surveillance System 1990-94. Washington (DC): CPSC. Reference and statistic found on Centers for Disease Control website: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/playgr.htm)

About 35% of all playground injuries are severe (e.g., fractures, internal injuries, concussions, dislocations, amputations, crushes). (Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). National Electronic Injury Surveillance System 1990-94. Washington (DC): CPSC. Reference and statistic found on Centers for Disease Control website: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/playgr.htm)

It is estimated that 40% of playground injuries are related to inadequate supervision. (Project SafeSite.11305 Rancho Bernardo Rd. Suite 116. San Diego, CA 92127. Safety help line (800) 999-6929. (619) 674-1370. fax (619) 674-4273. www.projectsafesite.com)

The lifetime health care costs caused by playground injuries in the state of Massachusetts, population approximately 6 million, is conservatively estimated at $10 million per year. (Project SafeSite.11305 Rancho Bernardo Rd. Suite 116. San Diego, CA 92127. Safety help line (800) 999-6929. (619) 674-1370. fax (619) 674-4273. www.projectsafesite.com)

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death in the United States for people aged 1-24. (Ten Leading Causes of Death Tables, 1994. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 1996.)

Motor vehicle crashes took the lives of 5,768 teenagers (aged13-19) and 2,557 children (aged 0-12) in 1994. (Peters KD, Kochanek KD, Murphy SL. Deaths: Final Data for 1996. National Vital Statistics Reports; Volume 47 No. 9. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics, 1998.)

The largest proportion of adolescent injuries are due to motor vehicle crashes. (Facts on Adolescent Injury. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Mailstop K65. 4770 Buford Highway NE. Atlanta, GA 30341-3724. (770)488-1506. Fax: (770)488-1667 Email: OHCINFO@cdc.gov. www.cdc.gov/ncipc.)

Adolescents are far less likely to use seat belts than any other age group. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Injury mortality: national summary of injury mortality data 1984-1990. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1993.)

When adolescents drive after drinking alcohol, they are more likely than adults to be in a crash, even when drinking less alcohol than adults. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Injury mortality: national summary of injury mortality data 1984-1990. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1993.)

If child safety seats were used by all children age and under, an estimated 50,000 serious injuries would be prevented and 455 lives would be saved each year. All 50 states and the District of Columbia have child restraint laws, and all these laws are "primary", meaning police may stop vehicles solely for belt law violations. (National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Mailstop K65. 4770 Buford Highway NE. Atlanta, GA 30341-3724. (770)488-1506. Fax: (770)488-1667 Email: OHCINFO@cdc.gov. www.cdc.gov/ncipc.)

Child safety seats reduce fatal injury by 69% for infants less than 1 year old and by 47% for children 1-4 years old. ("Report on Injuries in America." (1998) National Safety Council. 1121 Spring Lake Drive, Itasca, IL 60143-3201. (630) 285-1121; Fax: (630) 285-1315. www.nsc.org)

Among children age 5 and under, approximately 279 lives were saved in 1995 as a result of child restraint use. (National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Mailstop K65. 4770 Buford Highway NE. Atlanta, GA 30341-3724. (770)488-1506. Fax: (770)488-1667 Email: OHCINFO@cdc.gov. www.cdc.gov/ncipc.)

An estimated 2,934 lives were saved by child restraints from 1982 through 1995. (National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Mailstop K65. 4770 Buford Highway NE. Atlanta, GA 30341-3724. (770)488-1506. Fax: (770)488-1667 Email: OHCINFO@cdc.gov. www.cdc.gov/ncipc.)

Each year over 600,000 people are treated in emergency departments for bicycle-related injuries and 824 die from this type of injury. (Singh, G.K., Kochanek KD., MacDorman, MF., Advance Report of Final Mortality Statistics Reports, 1994. Monthly Vital Statistics Report, Volume 45, No. 3, Supplement. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics, 1996.)

Bicycles remain associated with more childhood injuries than any other consumer product except the automobile. More than 70 percent of children ages 5 to 14 (27.7 million) ride bicycles. This age group accounts for approximately 30 percent of all bicycle-related deaths and more than 60 percent of all bicycle-related injuries. (SAFEKIDS Coalition and Campaign, Baystate Medical Center Children’s Hospital, 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA, 01199, (413) 794-5434, www.safekids.org)

The bicycle injury death rate among children ages 14 and under declined 51 percent from 1987 to 1996. (SAFEKIDS Coalition and Campaign, Baystate Medical Center Children’s Hospital, 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA, 01199, (413) 794-5434, www.safekids.org)

In 1996, bicyclists younger than 16 years old accounted for 32% of those killed in traffic crashes. (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Facts 1996 Fatalities: Bicycles. Arlington (VA): IIHS, 1997. Reference and statistic found on the Centers for Disease Control website: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/bikehel.htm)

Each year about 153,000 children get treatment in hospital emergency departments for bicycle-related head injuries. (Sosin DM, Sacks JJ, Webb KW. Pediatric head injuries and deaths from bicycling in the United States. Pediatrics 1996;98(5):868-70. Reference and statistic found on the Centers for Disease Control website: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/bikehel.htm)

In 1991, societal costs associated with bicycle-related head injury or death resulting from head injury were more than $3 billion. (U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC). Bicycle-related head injury or death. Washington (DC):CPSC, 1994.)

According to reports, 96% of bicyclists killed in 1996 were not wearing helmets. (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Facts 1996 Fatalities: Bicycles. Arlington (VA): IIHS, 1997. Reference and statistic found on the Centers for Disease Control website: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/bikehel.htm)

Bicycle helmets have been shown to reduce the risk for head injury by as much as 85% and the risk for brain injury by as much as 88%. (National Safe Kids Campaign (NSKC). Fact sheet on bicycle injury. Washington (DC): NSKC, 1997. Reference and statistic found on the Centers for Disease Control website: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/bikehel.htm)

It is estimated that 75% of bicycle-related fatalities among children could be prevented if all children on bicycles wore helmets. (National Safe Kids Campaign (NSKC). Fact sheet on bicycle injury. Washington (DC): NSKC, 1997. Reference and statistic found on the Centers for Disease Control website: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/bikehel.htm)

About 18 % of bicyclists wear helmets. Usage appears to be increasing. Just over half of current users began wearing a helmet during the past 3 years. Among frequent riders, helmet use appears to increase with age. Getting 50% of bicyclists to wear helmets is a national health goal for the year 2000. (Public Health Service (PHS). Health People 2000: Midcourse Review. Washington (DC): PHS, 1996:88-95. Reference and statistic found on the Centers for Disease Control website: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/bikehel.htm)

To date, 15 states and 56 localities have enacted some form of bicycle helmet legislation, most of which covers only young riders. (Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute (BHSI). Mandatory helmet laws: summary. Arlington (VA): BHSI, 1997.)

Every bicycle helmet saves this country $395 in direct health care costs and other costs to society. (National Safe Kids Campaign (NSKC). Fact sheet on bicycle injury. Washington (DC): NSKC, 1997. Reference and statistic found on the Centers for Disease Control website: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/bikehel.htm)

If 85% of all child cyclists wore bicycle helmets for one year, the savings in medical costs would be between $109 million and $142 million. (National Safe Kids Campaign (NSKC). Fact sheet on bicycle injury. Washington (DC): NSKC, 1997. Reference and statistic found on the Centers for Disease Control website: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/bikehel.htm)

Helmets are particularly important for children since they suffer the majority of serious head injuries from bicycling accidents. (New England Journal of Medicine 1969; 320:1361-7, Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute)

97 percent of bicyclists killed in 1997 reportedly were not wearing helmets. (U.S. Department of Transportation Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, www.bshi.org/index.htm)

Riding without a bicycle helmet significantly increases the risk of sustaining a head injury in the event of a crash. Non-helmeted riders are 14 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than bicyclists wearing a helmet. (SAFEKIDS Coalition and Campaign, Baystate Medical Center Children’s Hospital, 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA, 01199, (413) 794-5434, www.safekids.org)

Bicycle helmets have been shown to reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent and the risk of brain injury by as much as 88 percent. (SAFEKIDS Coalition and Campaign, Baystate Medical Center Children’s Hospital, 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA, 01199, (413) 794-5434, www.safekids.org)

Bicyclists hospitalized with head injuries are 20 times more likely to die as those without helmets. (Injuries to Bicyclists, A Monograph by the Johns Hopkins Injury Prevention Center, Bike Helmet Safety Institute)

It is estimated that 75 percent of bicycle-related fatalities among children could be prevented with a bicycle helmet. (SAFEKIDS Coalition and Campaign, Baystate Medical Center Children’s Hospital, 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA, 01199, (413) 794-5434, www.safekids.org)

If all bicyclists wore helmets, one life would be saved every day. (Sacks JJ, Holmgreen P, Smith S, Sosin D. Bicycle-associated head injuries and deaths in the United States from

1984-1988. JAMA 1991;266:3016-8. Reference and statistic found on the Centers for Disease Control website: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/bikehel.htm)

If all bicyclists wore helmets, a head injury would be prevented every 4 minutes. (Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute (BHSI). Mandatory helmet laws: summary. Arlington (VA): BHSI, 1997. Reference and statistic found on the Centers for Disease Control website: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/bikehel.htm)

Falls are the leading cause of injury to children ages 5 and under. ("Kids Can’t Fly" Childhood Injury Prevention Program Boston Public Health Commission, 1010 Massachusetts Ave., 2^nd Floor, Boston, MA 02118 (617) 534-5197)

Black children ages 14 and under have a fall-related death rate that is one and a half times higher than that of white children. (SAFEKIDS Coalition, Western Massachusetts SafeKids Coalition Headquarters Baystate Medical Center Children’s Hospital, 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01199 (413) 794-5434. www.safekids.org)

Low-income children are more likely to be injured from falls due to deficiencies in the environment, including aging or deteriorating housing. (SAFEKIDS Coalition, Western Massachusetts SafeKids Coalition Headquarters Baystate Medical Center Children’s Hospital, 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01199 (413) 794-5434. www.safekids.org)

The death rate from falls among children ages 14 and under declined by 36 percent from 1987 to 1996. However, falls remain the leading cause of unintentional injury for children. Children ages 14 and under account for one-third of all fall-related visits to hospital emergency rooms. (SAFEKIDS Coalition, Western Massachusetts SafeKids Coalition Headquarters Baystate Medical Center Children’s Hospital, 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01199 (413) 794-5434. www.safekids.org)

The most common type of fall leading to hospitalization is fall from one level

to another, such as from playground equipment, beds, table, and chairs.

Baby walkers are a common cause of injuries in young children, in which

children in walkers fall down stairs or off porches. (Coats TJ, Allen M. Baby walker related injuries – a continuing problem. Archives of Emergency Medicine, 1991; 8: 52-55.; Fazen LE, Felizberto PI. Baby walker injuries. Pediatrics, 1982; 70:106-109. References and statistics found on Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center website:http://depts.washington.edu/hiprc/)

Falls resulting in severe or fatal injuries are usually due to falls from second story or higher windows. The mean height for a fatal injury is 5-6 stories. (Barlow B, Niemirska M, Gandhi RP, Leblanc W. Ten years experience with falls from a height in children. Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 1983; 18: 509-11. Reference and statistic found on Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center website:http://depts.washington.edu/hiprc/)

Window screens are made to pop out for fire safety reasons, and do not serve as a barrier to prevent children from falling out of windows. (Christoffel KK. How can we prevent children from falling out of windows. Presentation at the "Kids can’t fly" conference, Chicago, Illinois, January 23, 1985.)

Window falls tend to occur in large urban areas, low-income housing neighborhoods, and deteriorating and overcrowded housing. Children living in apartment buildings have the highest number of window fall incidences; five times more than that of children living in residences. (SAFEKIDS Coalition, Western Massachusetts SafeKids Coalition Headquarters Baystate Medical Center Children’s Hospital, 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01199 (413) 794-5434. www.safekids.org)

More than 80 percent of fall-related injuries among children ages 4 and under occur in the home. Among older children, ages 5 to 14, 45 percent of fall-related injuries occur in the home. In 1997, more than 100 children ages 14 and under died as a result of falls in the home. Of these children, more than half were under 4. (SAFEKIDS Coalition, Western Massachusetts SafeKids Coalition Headquarters Baystate Medical Center Children’s Hospital, 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01199 (413) 794-5434. www.safekids.org)

In 1993 alone, 18 children fell from unprotected windows in the Boston area. Three died. The majority of falls occurred during the summer months when children living in high rise apartments are most vulnerable. The majority of all window fall deaths (70 percent) occur during the spring and summer months. ("Kids Can’t Fly" Childhood Injury Prevention Program Boston Public Health Commission, 1010 Massachusetts Ave., 2^nd Floor, Boston, MA 02118 (617) 534-5197)

Window falls can cause serious injuries yet they can be prevented by combining education and safety technology (window guards). Implementing these elements can reduce the risk of falls. ("Kids Can’t Fly" Childhood Injury Prevention Program Boston Public Health Commission, 1010 Massachusetts Ave., 2^nd Floor, Boston, MA 02118 (617) 534-5197)

According to a research review conducted by the Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, window bars to prevent falls from heights has thus far only been evaluated in NewYork City. Both the educational program and the regulation appeared effective, although the regulations would be expected to have continued long term impact. (Systematic Review of Childhood Injury Prevention Interventions. Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center Box 359960 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104-2499 Phone: 206-521-1520 Fax: 206-521-1562 http://depts.washington.edu/hiprc/)

Window bars appear to be effective for preventing falls. Regulations requiring bars on rental housing appears to be most appropriate. (Systematic Review of Childhood Injury Prevention Interventions. Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center Box 359960 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104-2499 Phone: 206-521-1520 Fax: 206-521-1562 http://depts.washington.edu/hiprc/)

Barlow B, Niemirska M, Gandhi RP, Leblanc W. Ten years experience with falls from a height in children. Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 1983; 18: 509-11.

Burt, C.W. Injury-Related Visits to Hospital Emergency Departments: United States, 1992. Advance Data, Number 261. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics, February 1, 1995.

Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute (BHSI). Mandatory helmet laws: summary. Arlington (VA): BHSI, 1997.)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Injury mortality: national summary of injury mortality data 1984-1990. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1993.

Childhood Injury Fact Sheet. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Mailstop K65. 4770 Buford Highway NE. Atlanta, GA 30341-3724. (770)488-1506. Fax: (770)488-1667 Email: OHCINFO@cdc.gov. www.cdc.gov/ncipc.

Christoffel KK. How can we prevent children from falling out of windows. Presentation at the "Kids can’t fly" conference, Chicago, Illinois, January 23, 1985

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). National Electronic Injury Surveillance System 1990-94. Washington (DC): CPSC.

Facts on Adolescent Injury. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Mailstop K65. 4770 Buford Highway NE. Atlanta, GA 30341-3724. (770)488-1506. Fax: (770)488-1667 Email: OHCINFO@cdc.gov. www.cdc.gov/ncipc.

Fazen LE, Felizberto PI. Baby walker injuries. Pediatrics, 1982; 70:106-109

Injuries to Bicyclists, A Monograph by the Johns Hopkins Injury Prevention Center, Bike Helmet Safety Institute

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Facts 1996 Fatalities: Bicycles. Arlington (VA): IIHS, 1997.

"Kids Can’t Fly" Childhood Injury Prevention Program Boston Public Health Commission, 1010 Massachusetts Ave., 2^nd Floor, Boston, MA 02118 (617) 534-5197

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Mailstop K65. 4770 Buford Highway NE. Atlanta, GA 30341-3724. (770)488-1506. Fax: (770)488-1667 Email: OHCINFO@cdc.gov. www.cdc.gov/ncipc.

National Safe Kids Campaign (NSKC). Fact sheet on bicycle injury. Washington (DC): NSKC, 1997.

New England Journal of Medicine 1969; 320:1361-7, Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute

Peters KD, Kochanek KD, Murphy SL. Deaths: Final Data for 1996. National Vital Statistics Reports; Volume 47 No. 9. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics, 1998.

Project SafeSite.11305 Rancho Bernardo Rd. Suite 116. San Diego, CA 92127. Safety help line (800) 999-6929. (619) 674-1370. fax (619) 674-4273. www.projectsafesite.com

Public Health Service (PHS). Health People 2000: Midcourse Review. Washington (DC): PHS, 1996:88-95.

"Report on Injuries in America." (1998) National Safety Council. 1121 Spring Lake Drive, Itasca, IL 60143-3201. (630) 285-1121; Fax: (630) 285-1315. www.nsc.org

Runyan CW, Gerken EA. Epidemiology and prevention of adolescent injury: a review and research agenda. JAMA 1989;262:16:2273-2278.

Sacks JJ, Holmgreen P, Smith S, Sosin D. Bicycle-associated head injuries and deaths in the United States from 1984-1988. JAMA 1991; 266:3016-8.

SAFEKIDS Coalition and Campaign, Baystate Medical Center Children’s Hospital, 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA, 01199, (413) 794-5434, www.safekids.org

Singh, G.K., Kochanek KD., MacDorman, MF., Advance Report of Final Mortality Statistics Reports, 1994. Monthly Vital Statistics Report, Volume 45, No. 3, Supplement. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics, 1996.

Sosin DM, Sacks JJ, Webb KW. Pediatric head injuries and deaths from bicycling in the United States. Pediatrics 1996;98(5):868-70.

Systematic Review of Childhood Injury Prevention Interventions. Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center Box 359960 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104-2499 Phone: 206-521-1520 Fax: 206-521-1562 http://depts.washington.edu/hiprc/)

Ten Leading Causes of Death Tables, 1994. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 1996

U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC). Bicycle-related head injury or death. Washington (DC):CPSC, 1994.

U.S. Department of Transportation Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, http://www.bshi.org/index.htm

The Daily News (New York). (Feb. 20, 1998). Landlord group stresses need for window guards.

Property owners should ensure compliance with laws to prevent injuries to children.

Children’s Hospital. (June 29, 1999). Safety tips to prevent window falls. KidSource Online. www.kidsource.com.

Floridian Health Times: Focus on Children’s Health. (August 11, 1999) Soft on helmets.

Outlines research on why community prevention programs are not as effective as they should be.

Jefferson, Robin Seaton. (Oct. 13, 1999). Otter’s mascot preaches helmet safety: Oscar visits school to teach importance of protective gear. St. Charles City Post.

Hockey mascot part of preventative program that caters to elementary students.

Latour, Francie. (June 1, 1998). Two children injured n window falls. The Boston Globe.

Two children fall from windows in the same day, prevention by supervision and safety guards called for.

Oldenburg, Don. (Feburary 24, 1999). Helping kids play it safe. Washington Post.

A toy fair geared towards kids provides information about preventing injuries.

Sullivan, Paul. (May 1, 1998). "Kids Can’t Fly" campaign kicks off to prevent warm weather tragedies. The Boston Herald.

Program’s summer kick-off with Mayor Menino’s help, the Boston Public Health Commission lends resources.

Vergano, Don. (June 2, 1999). Surgeon’s campaign urges kids to play it safe. Chicago Sun-Times.

The campaign delineates common errors in preventative measures.