Lehman D, Schonfeld N
University of California, San Francisco.
Pediatrics. 1993 Jul;92(1):121-4.
Falls from windows and balconies have long been recognized as a health hazard facing children in large, eastern cities. No study has explored this problem in western and sunbelt states.
A retrospective chart review of children admitted to a large, west coast hospital for injuries sustained secondary to a fall from a building was conducted. The health care costs for injuries secondary to falls were estimated by reviewing Los Angeles County hospital discharge data over a 3-year period. Representative cities in western and sunbelt states were surveyed about their building code regulations for windows and balconies.
Ninety-three children fell from windows and 58 from other structures (balconies, fire escapes, and roofs). The fall victims were more likely to be male (male-female ratio, 1.6:1), younger than 3 years old, and playing at the time of the fall. In more than 70% of the cases reviewed, the child fell from a second-story window. Morbidity was significant, with two thirds of children experiencing at least one fracture and more than 30% of the children requiring the intensive care unit. The mortality rate was low (0.7%); however, 10% were left neurologically impaired. The cost for hospitalization was approximately $5000 to $8000 per child. The survey revealed a lack of building code regulations for windows or window guards in western and sunbelt states.
Falls from windows are a significant problem for children, not only in eastern cities, but throughout the nation. Morbidity is significant, even from less than three stories, and the health care cost is high. Preventive strategies are suboptimal.
长期以来，从窗户和阳台坠落一直被认为是东部大城市儿童面临的健康危害。尚无研究探讨西部和阳光地带州的这一问题。
对一家西海岸大型医院收治的因从建筑物坠落而受伤的儿童进行回顾性病历审查。通过审查洛杉矶县三年期间的医院出院数据，估算因坠落受伤的医疗费用。对西部和阳光地带州的代表性城市进行了关于窗户和阳台建筑规范的调查。
93名儿童从窗户坠落，58名从其他结构（阳台、消防梯和屋顶）坠落。坠落受害者更可能是男性（男女比例为1.6:1），年龄小于3岁，且坠落时正在玩耍。在审查的病例中，超过70%的儿童从二楼窗户坠落。发病率很高，三分之二的儿童至少有一处骨折，超过30%的儿童需要入住重症监护病房。死亡率较低（0.7%）；然而，10%的儿童遗留神经功能障碍。每名儿童的住院费用约为5000至8000美元。调查显示，西部和阳光地带州缺乏窗户或窗户防护装置的建筑规范。
从窗户坠落对儿童来说是一个重大问题，不仅在东部城市，在全国范围内都是如此。即使从不到三层楼高的地方坠落，发病率也很高，医疗费用也很高。预防策略并不理想。
