312

214

MMWR

April 19 , 1985 ATV - Associated Injuries – Continued

Hospital admissions for persons with ATV - associated injuries were identified by reviewing inpatient records from the Indian Health Service hospitals and from two of the three major pri vate referral hospitals in Alaska . During the 2 - year period , 324 patients were hospitalized for ATV - related injuries . The average duration of stay was 8 . 5 days . Of the 324 hospitalizations , 113 ( 35 % ) occurred as a result of fractures / dislocations of the lower extremity . Six patients ( ranging in age from 21 years to 51 years ) were hospitalized as a result of severe head or spinal cord injuries ; they are now permanently disabled and will require long - term skilled care . In one private hospital , 43 ( 66 % ) of 65 inpatients required a surgical procedure under general anesthesia . Although data on outpatients from all hospitals are far less complete , 214 outpa tient visits for ATV - associated injuries were documented during the study period .

Based on the current estimates for hospital care in Alaska ( average of $ 578 per inpatient day ) ( 1 ) , ATV - associated injuries accounted for approximately $ 1 . 6 million in health - care dol lars spent for inpatient care alone during 1983 - 1984 . Using estimated costs of basic care for residents of a large long - term care facility in Anchorage ( $ 4 . 800 per month ' ) , the six per manently disabled individuals may require additional expenditures of $ 11 . 5 million for basic long - term skilled care if each lives to age 65 years .

The Alaska Department of Public Safety and Department of Transportation ( DPS / DOT ) re ceived police reports of 234 incidents involving 304 injured riders or property damage asso ciated with ATV use during the study period . Reports from DPS / DOT were used to character ize riders , vehicles , and environmental conditions involved in fatal and nonfatal ATV incidents investigated by police . Persons in the 10 - to 14 - year age group ( 24 % ) were most frequently involved in incidents reported to DPS / DOT , and more than twice as many males as females were involved . Incidents were reported more frequently on Saturdays and Sundays than on weekdays . Although ATVs are marketed for off - road use , 63 % of incidents occurred on roads . Police reported that vehicles were most frequently moving straight at a constant speed ( 57 % ) rather than changing speed or direction before the event . The most frequent contribut ing factors cited by police were alcohol ( 20 % ) , speeding ( 16 % ) , driver inexperience ( 12 % ) , and driver inattention ( 11 % ) . * Only 9 % of riders wore helmets at the time of the incident . Although all ATV models are designed for use by a single rider , 29 % of incidents reported by police in volved multiple riders . Reported by S Jenkerson , J Middaugh , MD , State Epidemiologist , Alaska Dept of Health and Social Svcs ; Epidemiologic Studies Bi , Div of Surveillance and Epidemiolgic Studies , Epidemiology Program Office , Special Studies Br , Chronic Disease Div , Center for Environmental Health , CDC . . . Editorial Note : Injuries are the leading cause of premature mortality in the United States ( 2 ) . Mortality associated with unintentional injuries is the leading cause of premature mortality in Alaska and probably reflects the age structure of the state ( median age is 26 . 3 years ) . During •This figure does not include costs for physicians ' fees , medications or occupational , physical , recrea tional , or speech therapy . " Only one factor per incident was cited .

: : :

TABLE 2 . Fatalities associated with all - terrain vehicles , by cause of death – Alaska . 1983 - 1984

Cause of death

( % )

Impact to head Impact to trunk Drowning Asphyxiation Hypothermia Unknown Total

ܘܰܐܘܺܚ ܚ ܚ ܝܝ 6

( 50 ) ( 15 ) ( 15 ) ( 10 ) ( 5 )

( 5 )

( 100 )