ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of nonfatal consumer product– and sports and recreational activity–related injuries among US children.MethodsNational Electronic Injury Surveillance System data regarding children younger than 18 years who were treated in US emergency departments (EDs) for nonfatal consumer product– or sports and recreational activity–related injuries were analyzed.ResultsFrom 1990 through 2012, an estimated 121,489,024 (95% confidence interval, 104,226,323–138,751,726) children younger than 18 years were treated in US EDs for nonfatal injuries meeting study criteria, yielding an average of 5,282,131 children annually, or 74.12 injuries per 1000 children. During 1990 to 2005, the overall annual injury rate decreased by 14.0% (P < 0.001), followed by an increase of 7.3% (P = 0.157) during 2005 to 2012. The concussion/closed head injury rate increased by 199.3% (P < 0.001) from 1996 to 2012. Injury rates were highest among children 0 to 4 years old and lowest among children 5 to 9 years old. Sports and recreational activities accounted for 46.5% of all injuries. Falls (40.2%) and “struck-by” (22.6%) were the leading mechanisms of injury, and 62.3% of all injuries were among boys. Injuries often occurred to the head/neck (37.8%) or upper extremities (31.9%), were frequently diagnosed as lacerations (29.0%) or soft tissue injuries (21.0%), and 2.7% were admitted to the hospital.ConclusionsOn average, a child was treated in a US ED for a nonfatal consumer product– or sports and recreational activity–related injury every 6 seconds. Although injury rates decreased early in the study period, there was a nonsignificant increasing trend from 2005 to 2012. Multilevel injury prevention efforts are recommended.
