COVID-19 and How Kids Are Getting Hurt at Home

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, fewer children than usual have visited emergency rooms. But doctors across the country say they have seen a growing number of children who suffered broken bones on bikes and trampolines, accidental poisonings, and other severe injuries during the widespread lockdowns. In fact, recent research conducted by experts at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) published in the Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics suggests a need for increased awareness of at-home safety measures.

“Although the overall rate of fractures is down significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, the proportion due to bicycle and trampoline injuries has gone up substantially,” said Apurva Shah, MD, MBA, an orthopaedic surgeon in CHOP’s Division of Orthopaedics and senior author of the study. “It is important to remind parents about the importance of basic safety precautions with bicycles and trampolines, as many children are substituting these activities in place of organized sports and school activities.”

Read the New York Times story for more — Bike Spills, Trampoline Falls and Sips of Sanitizer: How Kids Are Getting Hurt at Home.