What is, arguably, the one household appliance that leads to acute injury?
Would you believe the personal computer?
OK, so some might not consider the computer an appliance, per se, but it sure is used a lot more than the dishwasher and microwave, at least at my house.
A study released this week by Center for Injury Research and Policy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital found that acute computer-related injuries increased by 732 percent, from nearly 1,300 to approximately 9,300 injuries per year.
The study didn't chart chronic conditions, such as lower back pain from slumping in front of the screen or blurred vision. Rather, it tracked mishaps such as lacerations and contusions and abrasions. Young children are especially vulnerable to head injuries.
Among the injuries was hitting the side of the computer and sustaining a contusion (37 percent of all injuries) and computer equipment falling on the patient (21 percent). For the elderly and young children, tripping over computer cords was a big problem.
"Various agencies provide safety recommendations for the home, including the bedroom, bathroom, living room and kitchen, but the home office or computer area is rarely considered," Dr. Lara McKenzie, who led the study, said in a release. "Parents should take steps to make their computer areas and home offices as safe as possible by keeping computer equipment away from the edges of desks and out of reach of young children, installing safety covers on unused electrical outlets, allowing young children to only use the computer with adult supervision, and keeping play areas separate from the computer workstation."
