Teaching safety at a summer camp: evaluation of a water safety curriculum in an urban community setting.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this project was to evaluate a water safety curriculum in a low-income, minority-focused, urban youth summer camp. The curriculum is available to Safe Kids Coalitions across the country; however, it has not previously been evaluated. METHODS: Participants were pre-K to third-grade students (n = 166). Children watched a video and received the curriculum in a classroom setting. Each child was given a pre-, post-, and 3-week retention exam to assess knowledge change. Mean test scores and number of safety rules participants could list were analyzed using paired Student's t tests. Parents were given a baseline survey at the beginning (n = 140) and end of the weeklong curriculum (n = 118). RESULTS: The participants were 50% male, 27.5% Hispanic, 68.7% African American, and 3.8% biracial. Children were divided into three groups: pre-K/kindergarten, first and second grade, and third grade. Children in each of the groups received higher knowledge scores at the posttest (p = .0097, p < .0001, and p < .0001, respectively), with little decline in scores at the 3-week retention exam. Similar results were seen for the ability to list safety rules, though the number fell slightly between the posttest and retention test. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates that children possessed more knowledge of water safety after receiving this curriculum. This knowledge increase was maintained through the 3-week retention exam. Further evaluation of the curriculum's content and its impact on water safety beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors are needed, as well as evaluation of additional settings, risk areas, and the role of parental involvement.

Pediatric injuries in Central Texas.

In Texas, more children aged from 1 through 14 years die from injury-related causes than from the next 9 causes of death combined. Injuries to children hospitalized in Central Texas during 2003 and 2004 were caused predominantly by falls and motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) and resulted in a large number of fractures and open wounds. Fifty-six Central Texas children died in 2003 and 2004 after reaching the hospital, out of a total of 175 children killed in injury-related events during this period. Most injury-related deaths were due to a traumatic brain injury. Most of the children suffering injury in MVCs were not restrained at the time of the accident. Injury data are invaluable to injury prevention efforts. These data were gathered from the Public Use Data File maintained by the Injury and EMS/Trauma Registry Group at the Department of State Health Services; limitations of the data set are discussed, and implications for injury prevention are highlighted.

Screening for risky alcohol use among caregivers of pediatric trauma patients: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Injury is the leading cause of death for children and has been linked to caregiver drinking. Screening and brief intervention for risky drinking has been successful in adult trauma centers but has not been evaluated in caregivers of pediatric trauma patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate a pilot screening process for risky drinking caregivers, to determine rates of risky alcohol use, and to assess potential relationships between risky drinking and child safety behaviors. METHODS: Caregivers of pediatric trauma patients were screened by trained injury prevention educators. The screening assessed risky drinking, tobacco and illicit drug use, and child safety behaviors. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, frequency comparisons, and univariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Over 7 months, 295 caregivers were screened; 32.5% (n = 96) screened positive for risky alcohol use. For 173 injured children, one caregiver was screened, and for 61 children, two caregivers were screened. In the one-caregiver group, 29% (n = 50) screened positive for risky drinking. For the two-caregiver group, in 18% (n = 11) of the cases, both caregivers screened positive, whereas in 39% (n = 24) only one caregiver screened positive. Males were more likely to screen positive (p < 0.01). Relationships between reported child safety behaviors and risky drinking were of interest, but not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study demonstrate that a substantial number of caregivers of pediatric trauma patients will self-report risky drinking behaviors, and therefore, an opportunity exists for these families to receive the benefits of screening and brief intervention programs in pediatric trauma care settings.

Screening for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in a select sample of injured and uninjured pediatric patients.

PURPOSE: Injury is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality to children. The purpose of this study is to compare attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) screening results in a select group of injured pediatric patients to noninjured patients. METHODS: Parents of patients 6 to 12 years of age were enrolled in the study. Patients were either admitted for specific injury mechanisms (n = 133) or appendicitis (n = 157). Demographic and medical data were collected, and an ADHD screening tool was administered. Logistic regression models were used to compare screening results between groups. RESULTS: The injured patient group was 3.25 times more likely to screen positive for ADHD (odds ratio, 3.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.57-6.72; P = .002) than the appendicitis group. Among the injured patients who screened positive for ADHD, only 34.0% reported currently receiving treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that pediatric patients with certain injury mechanisms may warrant screening and referral for ADHD. Appropriate identification and treatment of undiagnosed ADHD may reduce the burden of injury recidivism. Screening and referral for ADHD within a trauma service should be evaluated for effectiveness as an injury prevention initiative.

Prevalence of craniorachischisis in a Texas-Mexico border population.

BACKGROUND: The most severe neural tube defect (NTD), craniorachischisis, is characterized by anencephaly confluent with spina bifida open from the cervical to the lumbar region. We describe the prevalence of craniorachischisis among the Texas-Mexico border population during the period 1993-1999. METHODS: An active surveillance system identified all clinically apparent NTD-affected fetuses and infants born to mothers residing and delivering in any of the 14 Texas-Mexico border counties. Craniorachischisis cases included live-born, stillborn, and therapeutic abortions. RESULTS: A total of 16 craniorachischisis cases were identified for a total prevalence of 0.51 per 10,000 live births (Mexican American prevalence, 0.52 per 10,000) and a prevalence of 0.28 per 10,000 live births for cases of 20 weeks gestation or greater. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of craniorachischisis was higher than that reported in Atlanta (0.1 per 10,000 live births), but much lower than that reported in Northern China (10.7 per 10,000 births). In this high NTD prevalence region, it is possible that a multiplicity of risk factors, mostly related to poverty, contribute to a high prevalence of craniorachischisis.