| le="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 148.5pt" | | | | ATV’s for kids under the age of 14 will |
| class="MsoNormal">ATV Safety for Kids by | | | | ultimately shoulder the responsibility of their |
| Derek Castleberry | | | | child’s safety. |
| ATV Safety for Kids by Derek Castleberry | | | | For more information on ATV Safety for Kids |
| How young is too you to operate an All Terrain | | | | please visit my blog Many families enjoy |
| Vehicles (ATVs)? This same question is before us | | | | ATV’s including my own but even I cringe |
| again as the injury reports from this summer are | | | | when I see kids as young as 7 years old on 4 |
| still being tallied. Many families enjoy ATV’s | | | | Wheelers. |
| including my own but even I cringe when I see | | | | And yes, the kids typically are equipped with the |
| kids as young as 7 years old on 4 Wheelers. | | | | proper safety gear but impact injuries are still |
| And yes, the kids typically are equipped with the | | | | reported daily all across the country. Due to the |
| proper safety gear but impact injuries are still | | | | increase in injuries involving minors under the age |
| reported daily all across the country. Due to the | | | | of 10 and ATV’s the medical community |
| increase in injuries involving minors under the age | | | | as well as Law Makers are now considering raising |
| of 10 and ATV’s the medical community | | | | the legal operating age to 16. Some would argue |
| as well as Law Makers are now considering raising | | | | that the dangers of All Terrain Vehicles are the |
| the legal operating age to 16. Some would argue | | | | exact equivalent to cyclers in populated cities. |
| that the dangers of All Terrain Vehicles are the | | | | Regardless of what side of the argument |
| exact equivalent to cyclers in populated cities. | | | | you’re on the reality is this, even |
| Regardless of what side of the argument | | | | ATV’s that are design for kids under 12 |
| you’re on the reality is this, even | | | | years old can still reach speed in excess of 20 |
| ATV’s that are design for kids under 12 | | | | miles an hour, far faster than a bicycle. |
| years old can still reach speed in excess of 20 | | | | Lois Lee, MD, MPH, who specializes in pediatric |
| miles an hour, far faster than a bicycle. | | | | emergency medicine at Children’s Hospital |
| | | | Boston, spoke out yesterday in support of a |
| Lois Lee, MD, MPH, who specializes in pediatric | | | | Massachusetts bill that would raise the legal age |
| emergency medicine at Children’s Hospital | | | | requirement to drive an ATV. Current laws |
| Boston, spoke out yesterday in support of a | | | | mandate that a child as young as 10 can ride an |
| Massachusetts bill that would raise the legal age | | | | ATV with adult supervision, but the new bill would |
| requirement to drive an ATV. Current laws | | | | increase the minimum ATV driving age to 14. Lois |
| mandate that a child as young as 10 can ride an | | | | Lee, MD, director of Children’s Injury |
| ATV with adult supervision, but the new bill would | | | | Prevention Program and David Mooney, MD, MPH, |
| increase the minimum ATV driving age to 14. Lois | | | | director of the Trauma Program, support this bill. |
| Lee, MD, director of Children’s Injury | | | | The majority of the time the children are |
| Prevention Program and David Mooney, MD, MPH, | | | | poorly trained, poorly supervised, and not strong |
| director of the Trauma Program, support this bill. | | | | enough to control these machines, Mooney |
| The majority of the time the children are | | | | says. |
| poorly trained, poorly supervised, and not strong | | | | In the emergency department, Lee and Mooney |
| enough to control these machines, Mooney | | | | have seen the devastating effects ATV accidents |
| says. | | | | can have. Over the last five years, more than 75 |
| In the emergency department, Lee and Mooney | | | | children were admitted to Children’s with |
| have seen the devastating effects ATV accidents | | | | life-changing injuries caused by ATV accidents. |
| can have. Over the last five years, more than 75 | | | | Recently, we cared for an 8-year-old whose |
| children were admitted to Children’s with | | | | groin was impaled by the handlebar when the |
| life-changing injuries caused by ATV accidents. | | | | ATV he was riding ran into a parked car, Lee |
| Recently, we cared for an 8-year-old whose | | | | says. Another young boy ruptured his spleen |
| groin was impaled by the handlebar when the | | | | when his ATV hit a tree trunk. Both children were |
| ATV he was riding ran into a parked car, Lee | | | | injured while riding supervised by their fathers and |
| says. Another young boy ruptured his spleen | | | | wearing full protective gear. |
| when his ATV hit a tree trunk. Both children were | | | | Regardless of if the proposed bill has legs or not, |
| injured while riding supervised by their fathers and | | | | the parents who decide to purchase |
| wearing full protective gear. | | | | ATV’s for kids under the age of 14 will |
| Regardless of if the proposed bill has legs or not, | | | | ultimately shoulder the responsibility of their |
| the parents who decide to purchase | | | | child’s safety. |