Effect of weather on attendance with injury at a paediatric emergency department.
OBJECTIVE
To ascertain whether the weather affects the attendance rate of children with injuries at a paediatric accident and emergency department.


METHODS
The maximum daily temperature and weather conditions (rain/cloud/sun) were noted over a three month period in spring/summer 2002, together with the number of children attending with new injuries or trauma.


RESULTS
There was a direct association between trauma attendance and clement weather with higher attendances on dry and sunny days. There was a less obvious association between maximum daily temperature and attendance.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings confirm the anecdotal belief that warm sunny weather results in a higher attendance of paediatric injuries.
Macgregor
D M
DM
Accident and Emergency Department, Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital, Cornhill Road, Aberdeen AB25 2ZG, UK. diana.macgregor@grampion.scot.uk
D002648:Child; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D013472:Sunlight; D013696:Temperature; D014887:Weather; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*