Water park injuries.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify water park injuries, particularly injuries related to waterslides. METHODS: This prospective observational study was carried out between May 2005 and September 2006 in a university hospital emergency clinic, which has 50,000 annual visits. The study form, including patient demographics, types and mechanisms of injuries and the final diagnoses, was completed for all patients. A total of 73 patients were enrolled into the study. The mean age of the patients was 23.92+/-15.05 and 48 patients (65.8%) were male. RESULTS: The mechanisms of injury were as follows: 23 patients (31.5%) were injured on waterslides, 16 (21.9%) were injured in pools and 34 (46.6%) were injured by slipping and falling on the wet surfaces. After the emergency department evaluations, 15 patients (20.5%) were diagnosed to have spinal trauma, 16 (21.9%) head trauma, 15 (20.5%) maxillofacial trauma, and 30 (41%) other injuries. CONCLUSION: In water park injuries, while children have especially head and maxillofacial trauma, extremity and spinal injuries are more frequent in the adult group. Unless sufficient and required safety precautions are maintained during water park activities, fatal injuries may occur.

Author information

Author/s: Söyüncü, Seçgin (S); Yigit, Ozlem (O); Eken, Cenker (C); Bektas, Firat (F); Akçimen, Mehmet (M);

Affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Akdeniz University School of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey. ssoyuncu(-atsign-)akdeniz.edu.tr

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Ulusal travma ve acil cerrahi dergisi = Turkish journal of trauma & emergency surgery : TJTES (Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg), published in Turkey. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Sep; vol 15 (issue 5) : pp 500-4

Dates: Created 2009/09/25; Completed 2009/10/22;

PMID: 19779993, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/22/2009, IMS Date: )

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