Middle Tennessee doctors are seeing more kids show up to the emergency room for ATV-related crashes this summer.
In the last week, doctors at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt University Medical Center said they treated five children for ATV injuries, and the one thing parents can do reduce the chances of their child ending up there is getting your child to wear a helmet.
“One of the big things we see is head injuries. So you know, traumatic brain injuries, we see spinal cord injuries, orthopedic injuries,” said Purnima Unni, the VUMC Pediatric Trauma and Injury Prevention manager.
At Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, Unni said ATV accidents are the fourth most common reason why children end up in their ER.
“Typically we see 10 to 14-year-olds come in and if you really think about it that’s middle schoolers,” said Unni.
Workers at Cool Springs Powersports said every ATV has age restrictions based on the size of the vehicle, and they stress how important it is to wear a helmet.
“Kids get way too confident on ATVs so they start doing things they shouldn’t do like going up hills and turning real sharp,” said C.J. Wheeler, of Cool Springs Powersports. “Because of the center of gravity on ATVs, it’s way easier for children to flip.”
Parents should also protect their children’s bodies with gloves, chest plates and boots. Experts said they don’t want to see more kids hurt.
“There are safety features on ATVs like pull cords that stop the motor, but most parents I would say you need to be watching the entire time,” said Wheeler.
Last year, Vanderbilt doctors said they treated 69 kids for ATV crashes, and they expect to see more injuries later this summer. They strongly encourage parents to have their children a helmet and keep only one child per ATV.
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