Hazards to children riding in the back of pickup trucks.

PURPOSE

The goal of this study was to identify the spectrum of injuries and risks associated with children riding in the back of pickup trucks and stimulate the medical and legislative community to adopt laws aimed at protective interventions for this type of travel.

METHODS

Patients were identified and data collected retrospectively from trauma registries at the two major university urban trauma centers in Kentucky.

RESULTS

From 1988 to 1993, 33 patients less than 18 years old were ejected from the back of pickup trucks. The majority were males older than 10 years. Injuries occurred predominantly during summer, in early evening, and in rural areas. Eleven patients were ejected during a collision, 19 were ejected from a moving truck, and 3 fell from a stationary truck. The head was the predominant organ injured. The average ISS score was 12.0 (+/- 7.5). The length of stay in the hospital varied from 1 to 84 days with 13 patients requiring intensive care. Three patients died and 3 required rehabilitation therapy.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that (1) Children riding in pickup truck beds are at serious risk of being ejected from the vehicle; (2) children are frequently ejected from truck beds in non-crash events; and (3) continued attention should be directed to enacting stronger legislation limiting passenger transport in pickup truck beds.