| Pediatric trauma is the leading cause of death and | | | | common cause of death was homicide or suicide |
| severe injury among children in the United States. In | | | | (mostly with firearms), and then drowning. Every |
| order for a doctor to properly care for a child | | | | year about twenty thousand children and teenagers |
| experiencing such trauma, the doctor must have | | | | will die as a result of an injury or pediatric trauma. For |
| special knowledge, know precise management, and | | | | each one child that dies from an injury or trauma, |
| pay extreme attention to details. Every single person | | | | 1120 will be treated in an emergency room and forty |
| who comes in contact with the injured child must be | | | | will be hospitalized. About fifty thousand children will |
| familiar with modern trauma care in children. | | | | have an injury that leads to a permanent disability |
| Pediatric Trauma Care History | | | | every year. Pediatric trauma is a major health and |
| Peter Kottmeier established the very first pediatric | | | | well-being threat to children. |
| trauma unit in 1962 at the Kings County Hospital | | | | Pediatric Blunt Trauma And Penetrating Injuries |
| Center in Brooklyn, New York. Later in 1976, the | | | | Blunt trauma to the chest or other areas is a very |
| Resources for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient | | | | common cause of pediatric trauma. Penetrating injury |
| was published by the American College of Surgeons. | | | | of this sort is responsible for about ten to twenty |
| This booklet finally established requirements that a | | | | percent of pediatric trauma. Sadly, gunshot wounds |
| pediatric trauma center should meet. Starting in 1985, | | | | are the cause of most penetrating injuries. These |
| the National Pediatric Trauma Registry began | | | | traumas have a much higher mortality rate then |
| collecting data on pediatric accidents. The United | | | | simple blunt object injuries. Increase in urban violence |
| States alone houses eighty one accredited pediatric | | | | has caused an increase in the frequency of children |
| trauma programs today. | | | | with pediatric trauma from penetrating injuries. |
| Pediatric Trauma Basics | | | | However, other objects can, and do, cause blunt and |
| In children older than one year old, injury is the | | | | penetrating trauma. Fender edges, shrapnel, and door |
| leading cause of death. Injury exceeds every other | | | | handles can all cause blunt or penetrating trauma in |
| cause of death-combined-in children. Unintentional | | | | children. |
| injury makes up sixty five percent of all injury deaths | | | | These injuries are very common in children. In order |
| in children eighteen years and younger. In a twenty | | | | to protect your child, make sure that your home is |
| year study from 1972 to 1992, motor vehicle | | | | safe and that your child is always safely secured in |
| accidents were the most common cause of death | | | | their car seat. |
| for one to nineteen year old children. The next most | | | | |