Dishwasher-related injuries: survey and literature review.
Domestic injuries are quite common among children aged 0-4 years old. Hazards lurking in the kitchen area can cause serious injuries in children. Through this study, we aim to raise public awareness of the potential and underreported risk of injuries related to dishwashers. Anonymous questionnaires consisting of 12 questions were distributed to adult females with children under 5 years old, including nurses, secretarial staff and outpatients. Commonly used dishwashers were surveyed by visiting high-street stores, and each brand's user manual was studied. A literature search using Medline and Pubmed was conducted for examining reported dishwasher-related sharp injuries. Forty households filled out survey questionnaires. Their responses indicated that 10% and 12.5% of children participate in unloading or loading dishwashers, respectively. Results showed that the incidence of related injuries was 12.5% among adults and 5% among children, and young children are at risk of sharp injuries in households with dishwashers. The dangerous loading and unloading of sharp objects and the direct involvement of toddlers should be discouraged, with the help of manufacturers.
a Neonatal Intensive Care , Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital , Grosvenor Road, Belfast , BT12 6BA , United Kingdom.
Wisam Salih
WS
Muhsen
Muhammad Faheem
MF
Khadim
D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003297:Cooking and Eating Utensils; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006794:Household Articles; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D012449:Safety; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000453:epidemiology*
dishwasher-related injuries; domestic safety; sharp utensils