Accidents due to falls from roof slabs
CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE Falls from the roof slabs of houses are accidents of high potential severity that occur in large Brazilian cities and often affect children and adolescents. The aims of this study were to characterize the factors that predispose towards this type of fall involving children and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Associação Paulista de Medicina
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| Series: | São Paulo Medical Journal |
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| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-31802013000300153&lng=en&tlng=en |
| _version_ | 1818990308612898816 |
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| author | Bruno Alves Rudelli Marcelo Valerio Alabarce da Silva Miguel Akkari Claudio Santili |
| author_facet | Bruno Alves Rudelli Marcelo Valerio Alabarce da Silva Miguel Akkari Claudio Santili |
| author_sort | Bruno Alves Rudelli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE Falls from the roof slabs of houses are accidents of high potential severity that occur in large Brazilian cities and often affect children and adolescents. The aims of this study were to characterize the factors that predispose towards this type of fall involving children and adolescents, quantify the severity of associated lesions and suggest preventive measures. DESIGN AND SETTING Descriptive observational prospective longitudinal study in two hospitals in the metropolitan region of São Paulo. METHODS Data were collected from 29 cases of falls from roof slabs involving children and adolescents between October 2008 and October 2009. RESULTS Cases involving males were more prevalent, accounting for 84%. The predominant age group was schoolchildren (7 to 12 years old; 44%). Leisure activities were most frequently being practiced on the roof slab at the time of the fall (86%), and flying a kite was the most prevalent game (37.9%). In 72% of the cases, the children were unaccompanied by an adult responsible for them. Severe conditions such as multiple trauma and traumatic brain injuries resulted from 79% of the accidents. CONCLUSION Falls from roof slabs are accidents of high potential severity, and preventive measures aimed towards informing parents and guardians about the dangers and risk factors associated with this type of accident are needed, along with physical protective measures, such as low walls around the slab and gates with locks to restrict free access to these places. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T19:52:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f17ebea6113640f48db5018896f83bef |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1806-9460 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T19:52:19Z |
| publisher | Associação Paulista de Medicina |
| record_format | Article |
| series | São Paulo Medical Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-f17ebea6113640f48db5018896f83bef2022-12-21T19:28:16ZengAssociação Paulista de MedicinaSão Paulo Medical Journal1806-9460131315315710.1590/1516-3180.2013.1313479S1516-31802013000300153Accidents due to falls from roof slabsBruno Alves RudelliMarcelo Valerio Alabarce da SilvaMiguel AkkariClaudio SantiliCONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE Falls from the roof slabs of houses are accidents of high potential severity that occur in large Brazilian cities and often affect children and adolescents. The aims of this study were to characterize the factors that predispose towards this type of fall involving children and adolescents, quantify the severity of associated lesions and suggest preventive measures. DESIGN AND SETTING Descriptive observational prospective longitudinal study in two hospitals in the metropolitan region of São Paulo. METHODS Data were collected from 29 cases of falls from roof slabs involving children and adolescents between October 2008 and October 2009. RESULTS Cases involving males were more prevalent, accounting for 84%. The predominant age group was schoolchildren (7 to 12 years old; 44%). Leisure activities were most frequently being practiced on the roof slab at the time of the fall (86%), and flying a kite was the most prevalent game (37.9%). In 72% of the cases, the children were unaccompanied by an adult responsible for them. Severe conditions such as multiple trauma and traumatic brain injuries resulted from 79% of the accidents. CONCLUSION Falls from roof slabs are accidents of high potential severity, and preventive measures aimed towards informing parents and guardians about the dangers and risk factors associated with this type of accident are needed, along with physical protective measures, such as low walls around the slab and gates with locks to restrict free access to these places.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-31802013000300153&lng=en&tlng=enAccidental fallsChildAdolescentPublic healthAccident prevention |
| spellingShingle | Bruno Alves Rudelli Marcelo Valerio Alabarce da Silva Miguel Akkari Claudio Santili Accidents due to falls from roof slabs São Paulo Medical Journal Accidental falls Child Adolescent Public health Accident prevention |
| title | Accidents due to falls from roof slabs |
| title_full | Accidents due to falls from roof slabs |
| title_fullStr | Accidents due to falls from roof slabs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Accidents due to falls from roof slabs |
| title_short | Accidents due to falls from roof slabs |
| title_sort | accidents due to falls from roof slabs |
| topic | Accidental falls Child Adolescent Public health Accident prevention |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-31802013000300153&lng=en&tlng=en |
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