Paediatric pedestrian trauma: the danger after school.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the demographics of road pedestrian trauma in children in the Auckland region and to provide data that can help target prevention strategies.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis was conducted of all children (0-14 years) in the Auckland region admitted to the hospital or killed following a pedestrian versus vehicle injury for the 6-year period 2000-2005. Excluded were pedestrians injured in a driveway.


RESULTS
Over the 6-year period, 364 children were involved in pedestrian crashes resulting in 25 deaths. The median age was 7 years. Males comprised 63%. Pacific Islanders and Maori were over-represented. Three hundred seventeen patients had injury times recorded. Of these, 49% occurred between 3 and 7 pm. Injury peaks for school days showed a tri-modal pattern with injury peaks at 8-9 am, 3-4 pm and 5-6 pm with the 3-4 pm after-school peak predominating.


CONCLUSIONS
Prevention strategies should concentrate on the hours after school finishes and should be tailored for Maori and Pacific Island communities.
Children's Trauma Service, Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
Clinton
C
Newbury
Kai
K
Hsiao
Rangi
R
Dansey
James
J
Hamill
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D001336:Automobiles; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D010372:Pediatrics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013334:Students; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*