Purpose: To describe the national frequency and causes of washing machine-related injuries in children. Methods: We analyzed 448 automatic and wringer washing machine-related injuries from the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. We analyzed age, gender, diagnosis, body part injured, disposition, location, and comments, which were used to deduce a mechanism of injury. Results: Automatic washers comprised 80% of reported cases. Victims were predominantly male (61%), with a median age of 4.8 years. The most common diagnoses were contusion/ abrasion (30.6 %), lacerations/ punctures (26.4%) and fractures (13.5%). The most common body parts injured in automatic washers were the extremities (56.5%) and the head/ face (28.9%). For wringers, 97% were upper extremity injuries. Common mechanisms of injury included falling or jumping from the appliance (34.8%), striking the washer (33.1%) and putting a body part into a running machine (11.6%); eleven cases involved infants in car seats that fell from the washer. Most injuries (86%) occurred in the home. Conclusions: The CPSC estimates that over 11,000 children suffer washing machine related injuries each year. Though many injuries are minor, washing machines can also cause serious injury and death. Older machines have the potential to cause serious injury if the lid is opened when running. Children are also frequently injured when falling from washers. Parents should be educated to the dangers of allowing children to have access to washing machines and to avoid placing infants in car seats on the top of the washer.
Learning Objectives: At the end of the session participants will be able to: 1. Decribe the frequency and types of washing machine-related injuries in children. 2. Identify educational interventions that can be applied to prevent washing machine-related injuries in children. 3. List the strengths and weaknesses of using NEISS data for injury surveillance.
Keywords: Consumer Protection, Children
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Consumer Product Safety Commission
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.