Safe at home: prevention of pediatric unintentional injuries
Abstract Background Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death in children in the United States. Studies have shown that parent adherence to safety guidelines is improved when education is provided in conjunction with safety equipment. Methods This study surveyed parents about specific in...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Injury Epidemiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40621-023-00442-9 |
| _version_ | 1827328858966196224 |
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| author | Coleman Burch Alicia Webb Eric Jorge Bill King Michele Nichols Kathy Monroe |
| author_facet | Coleman Burch Alicia Webb Eric Jorge Bill King Michele Nichols Kathy Monroe |
| author_sort | Coleman Burch |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death in children in the United States. Studies have shown that parent adherence to safety guidelines is improved when education is provided in conjunction with safety equipment. Methods This study surveyed parents about specific injury prevention behaviors regarding medication and firearm storage and provided education and safety equipment for safe practice of these behaviors. The project took place in a pediatric emergency department (PED) and partnered with the hospital foundation and the school of medicine. Inclusion criteria were families visiting a freestanding PED in a tertiary care center. Participants completed a survey conducted by a medical student approximately 5 min in length. The student then provided each family with a medication lock box (if children ≤ 5 years old lived in the home), firearm cable lock, and education for safe storage of medications and firearms in the home. Results The medical student researcher spent a total of 20 h in the PED from June to August 2021. 106 families were approached to participate in the study, of which 99 agreed to participate (93.4%). A total of 199 children were reached with ages ranging from less than 1 year old to 18 years old. A total of 73 medication lockboxes and 95 firearm locks were distributed. The majority (79.8%) of survey participants were the mother of the patient and 97.0% of participants lived with the patient > 50% of the time. For medication storage, 12.1% of families store medications locked and 71.7% reported never receiving medication storage education from a healthcare professional. Regarding firearms, 65.2% of participants who reported having at least 1 firearm in the home stored firearms locked and unloaded with various methods of storage. 77.8% of firearm owners reported storing ammunition in a separate location from the firearm. Of all participants surveyed, 82.8% reported never receiving firearm storage education from a healthcare professional. Conclusions The pediatric ED is an excellent setting for injury prevention and education. Many families are not storing medications and firearms safely, demonstrating a clear opportunity to increase knowledge in families with young children. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:24:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-03315c91a15242d4866f4884f5c44951 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2197-1714 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:24:26Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Injury Epidemiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-03315c91a15242d4866f4884f5c449512024-03-05T17:23:45ZengBMCInjury Epidemiology2197-17142023-07-0110S11810.1186/s40621-023-00442-9Safe at home: prevention of pediatric unintentional injuriesColeman Burch0Alicia Webb1Eric Jorge2Bill King3Michele Nichols4Kathy Monroe5University of Alabama Heersink School of MedicineDivision of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama Heersink School of MedicineDivision of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama Heersink School of MedicineUniversity of Alabama Heersink School of MedicineDivision of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama Heersink School of MedicineDivision of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama Heersink School of MedicineAbstract Background Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death in children in the United States. Studies have shown that parent adherence to safety guidelines is improved when education is provided in conjunction with safety equipment. Methods This study surveyed parents about specific injury prevention behaviors regarding medication and firearm storage and provided education and safety equipment for safe practice of these behaviors. The project took place in a pediatric emergency department (PED) and partnered with the hospital foundation and the school of medicine. Inclusion criteria were families visiting a freestanding PED in a tertiary care center. Participants completed a survey conducted by a medical student approximately 5 min in length. The student then provided each family with a medication lock box (if children ≤ 5 years old lived in the home), firearm cable lock, and education for safe storage of medications and firearms in the home. Results The medical student researcher spent a total of 20 h in the PED from June to August 2021. 106 families were approached to participate in the study, of which 99 agreed to participate (93.4%). A total of 199 children were reached with ages ranging from less than 1 year old to 18 years old. A total of 73 medication lockboxes and 95 firearm locks were distributed. The majority (79.8%) of survey participants were the mother of the patient and 97.0% of participants lived with the patient > 50% of the time. For medication storage, 12.1% of families store medications locked and 71.7% reported never receiving medication storage education from a healthcare professional. Regarding firearms, 65.2% of participants who reported having at least 1 firearm in the home stored firearms locked and unloaded with various methods of storage. 77.8% of firearm owners reported storing ammunition in a separate location from the firearm. Of all participants surveyed, 82.8% reported never receiving firearm storage education from a healthcare professional. Conclusions The pediatric ED is an excellent setting for injury prevention and education. Many families are not storing medications and firearms safely, demonstrating a clear opportunity to increase knowledge in families with young children.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40621-023-00442-9ChildrenFirearmsIngestionsInjuryMedicationsPrevention |
| spellingShingle | Coleman Burch Alicia Webb Eric Jorge Bill King Michele Nichols Kathy Monroe Safe at home: prevention of pediatric unintentional injuries Injury Epidemiology Children Firearms Ingestions Injury Medications Prevention |
| title | Safe at home: prevention of pediatric unintentional injuries |
| title_full | Safe at home: prevention of pediatric unintentional injuries |
| title_fullStr | Safe at home: prevention of pediatric unintentional injuries |
| title_full_unstemmed | Safe at home: prevention of pediatric unintentional injuries |
| title_short | Safe at home: prevention of pediatric unintentional injuries |
| title_sort | safe at home prevention of pediatric unintentional injuries |
| topic | Children Firearms Ingestions Injury Medications Prevention |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40621-023-00442-9 |
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