title: Escalator-related injuries among older adults in the United States, 1991-2005.
abstract: This study describes the epidemiology of escalator-related injuries among adults age 65 and older in the U.S. between 1991 and 2005, through a retrospective analysis of data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. There were an estimated 39,850 escalator-related injuries and no fatalities. The overall injury rate was 7.8/100,000 population. During the study period 1991-2005, the rate of escalator-related injuries doubled. The mean age of the study population was 80.1 years (S.D.=8.5 years) with 73.3% female. The most frequent cause of injury was a slip, trip or fall (84.9%, 95% CI: 82.7-87.2%). The most frequently injured body parts were the lower extremities (25.9%, 95% CI: 21.5-30.2%) and the head (25.0%, 95% CI: 20.5-29.5%). The leading type of injury was soft tissue injuries (54.2%, 95% CI: 49.7-58.7%) followed by lacerations (22.3%, 95% CI: 18.4-26.1%) and fractures (15.6%, 95% CI: 13.1-18.1%). The rate of head injuries and the rate of hospitalizations increased with age. Escalator-related injuries occur infrequently but may result in significant trauma. These injuries are often associated with a slip, trip or fall. Awareness of the risks and the circumstances leading to escalator injuries allows for better direction of intervention strategies on the part of injury prevention specialists.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Riley Hospital for Children, Indiana University School of Medicine, 702 Barnhill Drive, Room 1601, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. joeoneil@iupui.edu
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'Neil
authors.forename: Gregory K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Steele
authors.forename: Carrie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huisingh
authors.forename: Gary A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000059:Accidents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000367:Age Factors; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004607:Elevators and Escalators / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*