Title: Researchers warn against tossing babies and children into the air near ceiling fans
Subtitle: Study finds that ceiling fan-related injuries to children are preventable
Date: [Insert Date]
Researchers from Dell Medical School in Austin, Texas, have issued a warning to parents and caregivers after studying the number of injuries sustained by babies and young children in rooms with ceiling fans. They discovered that tossing children into the air near ceiling fans can lead to serious head injuries, as reported in the journal Pediatrics.
According to the study, between 2013 and 2021, around 2,300 children were treated in U.S. emergency rooms for head injuries caused by ceiling fans. Lacerations were the most common injury, affecting 60% of the patients. Other injuries included contusions or abrasions, concussions, and rare cases of fractures.
Lead researcher Holly Hughes Garza, from the Trauma and Injury Research Center at Dell Children’s Medical Center, explained that most of the injuries occurred when babies or small children were lifted into the air near a moving ceiling fan. Another common cause was when older children were using bunk beds or furniture near ceiling fans and got hit in the head.
The researchers analyzed data from emergency room records collected under the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) for patients under the age of 18 who had sustained head, face, eyeball, mouth, or ear injuries related to ceiling fans.
The average age of the children treated in the emergency room was 5 years old, with spikes in injuries occurring among children younger than 1 year old and at 4 years old. The study also revealed that children under the age of 3 had twice the risk of being injured when lifted or tossed into the air near a ceiling fan.
Garza emphasized that the injuries could have been prevented and called for greater awareness of the hazards posed by ceiling fans in homes. She recommended considering ceiling fans as part of childproofing a home, similar to addressing electrical outlets or sharp corners.
While the majority of injuries required stitches for head lacerations, there were rare cases of more severe injuries such as concussions and skull fractures. However, the study acknowledged several limitations, including the possibility that less severe injuries were not captured in the data.
The researchers were unable to determine specific details in many cases, such as the type and speed of the ceiling fan involved, as well as demographic information about the families affected. Nevertheless, they recommended policymakers and the U.S. Product Safety Commission reassess building and electrical codes, consider adding warning labels to ceiling fans and bunk beds, and improve the quality and reporting of medical data.
CeilingFan.com highlighted that most residential ceiling fan blades are made from wood, plastic, or tropical materials like wicker or bamboo, rather than metal. Injuries caused by ceiling fans with metal blades are more prevalent in other countries. However, Garza noted that being cautious when lifting children above shoulder level and avoiding placing tall furniture near ceiling fans are crucial precautions.
Dr. Shana Johnson, a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician, emphasized the importance of considering ceiling fans as part of childproofing a home, alongside other potential hazards. She urged parents to prioritize the safety of their children, just as the Biden administration is taking steps to regulate ceiling fans for better energy efficiency.
By raising awareness about the preventable nature of ceiling fan-related injuries, researchers hope to reduce the number of children visiting emergency rooms and ensure safer homes for families.
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