Off-Road Vehicle Crash Risk during the Six Months after a Birthday

Abstract

BackgroundOff-road vehicles are popular and thrilling for youth outside urban settings, yet sometimes result in a serious crash that requires emergency medical care. The relation between birthdays and the subsequent risk of an off-road vehicle crash is unknown.MethodsWe conducted a population-based before-and-after longitudinal analysis of youth who received emergency medical care in Ontario, Canada, due to an off-road vehicle crash between April 1, 2002, and March 31, 2014. We identified youth injured in an off-road vehicle crash through population-based health-care databases of individuals treated for medical emergencies. We included youth aged 19 years or younger, distinguishing juniors (age ≤ 15 years) from juveniles (age ≥ 16 years).ResultsA total 32,777 youths accounted for 35,202 emergencies due to off-road vehicle crashes within six months of their nearest birthday. Comparing the six months following a birthday to the six months prior to a birthday, crashes increased by about 2.7 events per 1000 juniors (18.3 vs 21.0, p < 0.0001). The difference equaled a 15% increase in relative risk (95% confidence interval 12 to 18). The increase extended for months following a birthday, was not observed for traffic crashes due to on-road vehicles, and was partially explained by a lack of helmet wearing. As expected, off-road crash risks did not change significantly following a birthday among juveniles (19.2 vs 19.8, p = 0.61).ConclusionsOff-road vehicle crashes leading to emergency medical care increase following a birthday in youth below age 16 years. An awareness of this association might inform public health messages, gift-giving practices, age-related parental permissions, and prevention by primary care physicians.

Incidência de lesões em motociclistas praticantes de trilhas

“…Jason et al 22 conducted a longitudinal analysis with young people, under 20 years-old, who received emergency medical care in Ontario, Canada, due to an off-road vehicle accident between April 1, 2002 and March 31, 2014. They found that these young people are associated with an increased emergency medical care due to off-road vehicle accidents.…”

“…A number of studies have pointed out several risk factors as contributing factors to injuries, including high speed 3 13 lack of protective equipment, 10 alcohol intake, 9 10 recklesness, 22 low visibility, 13 15 and mechanical failures. 13 32 Roxanne et al 8 investigated injuries to American motocross and recreational off-road riders and reported that the chance of injury increases when the individual is under the alcohol influence, riding at high speeds and not using protective equipment.…”

“…Jason et al 22 realizaram uma análise longitudinal com jovens abaixo de 20 anos, que receberam atendimento médico de emergência em Ontário, Canadá, devido a um acidente de veículo off-road entre 1° de abril de 2002 e 31 de março de 2014. Os dados do estudo constataram que jovens com menos de 20 anos estão associados a um aumento de cuidados médicos de emergência, por causa de acidentes com veículos off-road .…”

“…Vários estudos têm apontado diversos fatores de riscos como contribuintes para ocasionar lesões, tais como: alta velocidade, 3 13 falta de equipamento de proteção, 10 ingestão de bebidas alcoólicas, 9 10 imprudências, 22 pouca visibilidade, 13 15 e falhas mecânicas. 13 32 No estudo de Roxanne et al, 8 que investigou lesões em pilotos americanos de motocross e motociclistas do off-road recreativo, os autores afirmam que a chance de ser ferido durante a participação em atividades com motocicleta aumenta quando o piloto está sob a influência de álcool, pilotando em altas velocidades, e não fazendo uso de equipamentos de proteção.…”