Freeman Medical Focus: ATV Safety
By: Dustin Lattimer
Updated: July 8, 2010
All-terrain vehicle, or ATV accidents are on the rise.
Freeman Hospital's Trauma Center reports double the number of injuries this year over last.
"Our youngest ATV wreck was five, five-years-old and the oldest was 69-years-old so there is a wide span in there," says Chris Hoag-Apel, the trauma supervisor for Freeman Health Systems.
However, most of the accidents happen to those younger than 18, and most of them can be avoided.
"What we are seeing is head injuries because they're not wearing helmets and that can be a disastrous thing," says Chris.
Trauma to the head can cause life-long changes to personality, learning and memory.
"What's happening is, you know, you get excited and you try something new and speed up a little bit and it will tip over for you and then it will roll on top of you," says Chris.
To avoid ATV injuries, the Freeman Trauma Center says you should wear a helmet, never wide with anyone else and wear property clothing, which means no flip-flops, shorts or short-sleeve shirts.
And if an ATV safety course is offered near you, consider enrolling.
"If parents are cognizant and they're there with that child and they're watching that child and they're wearing a helmet, I think ATV's can be safe, but parents need to be right up front and be aware of what's going on and how that vehicle is being ridden," says Chris.
Freeman Hospital's Trauma Center reports double the number of injuries this year over last.
"Our youngest ATV wreck was five, five-years-old and the oldest was 69-years-old so there is a wide span in there," says Chris Hoag-Apel, the trauma supervisor for Freeman Health Systems.
However, most of the accidents happen to those younger than 18, and most of them can be avoided.
"What we are seeing is head injuries because they're not wearing helmets and that can be a disastrous thing," says Chris.
Trauma to the head can cause life-long changes to personality, learning and memory.
"What's happening is, you know, you get excited and you try something new and speed up a little bit and it will tip over for you and then it will roll on top of you," says Chris.
To avoid ATV injuries, the Freeman Trauma Center says you should wear a helmet, never wide with anyone else and wear property clothing, which means no flip-flops, shorts or short-sleeve shirts.
And if an ATV safety course is offered near you, consider enrolling.
"If parents are cognizant and they're there with that child and they're watching that child and they're wearing a helmet, I think ATV's can be safe, but parents need to be right up front and be aware of what's going on and how that vehicle is being ridden," says Chris.
