All-terrain vehicles--unstable, unsafe and unregulated. A prospective study of ATV-related trauma in rural Ireland.
All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are fast, powerful machines that pose a significant threat to public safety. In the USA, ATVs are responsible for 273 deaths and over 68,000 injuries each year. As the incidence of ATV-related accidents in Britain and Ireland is unknown we carried out a prospective audit of all patients presenting to our Accident and Emergency Departments with ATV-related trauma over a 1-year period. Of 32 patients with ATV-associated injuries, 10 were under 16 years of age and 23 had no previous experience of operating an ATV. We documented 24 fractures (2 open) and 1 tension pneumothorax. Helmet usage was high and head injuries were few and not of a serious nature. Two-thirds of injuries occurred on commercial adventure sports courses. Since ATVs are off-road vehicles, they are exempt from safety regulations that apply to other forms of transport. As care-providers to trauma victims, we must make prevention of these injuries a priority and campaign for both voluntary and legislative controls to make ATV use a safer leisure pursuit.
Moroney
P
P
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Waterford Regional Hospital, Waterford, Ireland. p_moroney@hotmail.com
Doyle
M
M
Mealy
K
K
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000639:trends*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015541:Off-Road Motor Vehicles / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control