Baby Buggy or Baby Catapult? BACCH Annual Scientific Meeting Cardiff. 16 th and 17 th September...

Baby Buggy or Baby Catapult?BACCH Annual Scientific Meeting

Cardiff. 16th and 17th September 2014.

Dr. Vanessa ImpeySpecialist Registrar in Community Paediatrics

[email protected]’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

Dr. Daniel JamesGP Registrar – [email protected]

Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

#babycatapult @danielsjames

Case History typical of anecdotal evidence

• 10 days old baby

• Travelling in buggy on London Underground

• Fell from buggy on stairs

• Mechanism of fall

• Injury: skull fracture with underlying haematoma and infarction

Dr. Vanessa Impey, Dr. Daniel James. BACCH Annual Scientific Meeting September 2014. Baby Buggy or Baby Catapult? Introduction

What is the extent of the problem?

Literature Search

• 14 Papers in the English Literature concerning injuries related to buggies/prams/pushchairs.

• 5 of these concerning accidental deaths from asphyxia (in 1990s)

• 1 Non-Accidental Injury Case Study where a baby was shaken in a buggy

• 7 Case studies/prevalence studies about injuries related to falls from buggies

• 1 prevalence study of injuries on escalators

Recurring Themes

Injuries sustained on falling from buggies

Head Injuries

Improper use of straps

Stairs/Escalators

Dr. Vanessa Impey, Dr. Daniel James. BACCH Annual Scientific Meeting September 2014. Baby Buggy or Baby Catapult? Aims

How to find out more?

Contacted Transport for London Freedom of Information Act

incident reporting systems

Were TFL aware of a problem?Yes and No

How did TFL respond?Posters on buses

Request for further recommendations

Dr. Vanessa Impey, Dr. Daniel James. BACCH Annual Scientific Meeting September 2014. Baby Buggy or Baby Catapult? Methods

London Buses• 677 buggy-related injuries on buses over a 2 year period.

London Underground• 1164 under 16yrs injured 2008-2012 • 110 of these injuries were buggy-related (10%) • 72 babies ejected from buggies (inadequately secured)

– 54 taken to hospital by ambulance (75%) – 52 head injuries (72%) – 17 <6months (23%)

• At least 6 descriptions of head injuries indicating CT

Recurring Themes

Injuries sustained on falling from buggies

Head Injuries

Improper use of straps

Stairs/EscalatorsDr. Vanessa Impey, Dr. Daniel James. BACCH Annual Scientific Meeting September 2014. Baby Buggy or Baby Catapult? Results

Moving Forward

• Is this a snapshot of a national problem?

• TFL has responded to the authors' suggestions

• Health Visitor advice locally to include use of buggy straps and safety on public transport and stairs

Dr. Vanessa Impey, Dr. Daniel James. BACCH Annual Scientific Meeting September 2014. Baby Buggy or Baby Catapult? Discussion

Wider IssuesNo buggy manufacturer advocates carrying

children in a buggy – strapped in or not

Maclaren

Never leave child in the buggy when ascending

or descending stairs or

escalators or when travelling on other forms of transport

Stokke Never use the stroller on escalators iCandy

Never lift your pushchair

or use on escalators or

stairs when your child is

in the pushchair

Mothercare

Remove your child and fold the pushchair when

ascending or

descending stairs or escalators Quinny

Never use stairs or

escalators with your child in the pushchair

BabyJogger

Taking children up or down

steps, stairs or escalators in a

stroller could be dangerous and should not be attempted


Wider IssuesDiscrepancy between safety and practicality

TFL – Plan a route using escalators … lifts and rampsBuses: Hold on to your buggy


What lessons are there? What recommendations can you suggest?

Vanessa Impey: [email protected] Daniel James: [email protected]

#babycatapult @danielsjames

Baby Buggy or Baby Catapult? BACCH Annual Scientific Meeting Cardiff. 16 th and 17 th September...

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