Nearly 213,000 people were treated in emergency rooms annually between 2004 and 2005. More than half of the injuries occurred among young people aged 10-24.
A first of its kind report sponsored by the CDC and published in the journal Wilderness and Environmental Medicine provides national estimates of outdoor recreational injuries treated in community emergency rooms.
For both men and women of all ages, the most common injuries were fractures (27.4 percent) and sprains (23.9 percent). Of these, most injuries were to the arms or legs (52 percent) or to the head or neck (23.3 percent). Overall, 6.5 percent of outdoor injuries treated were diagnosed as traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Researchers found that snowboarding (25.5 percent), sledding (10.8 percent), and hiking (6.3 percent) were associated with the highest percentage of injuries requiring emergency department visits.
“Participation in outdoor recreation is increasingly popular in the United States,” said Arlene Greenspan, Dr. PH and co-author of the study. “The good news is that there are ways to help stay safe while having healthy fun outdoors. For example, by wearing the appropriate helmet for snowboarding, snowmobiling, sledding and rock climbing, you can reduce your risk of having a head injury, which could become a traumatic brain injury. Helmets are one piece of equipment that can have a critical, positive impact.”
The study points out that wilderness injury prevention begins with planning, preparation, and problem anticipation. Outdoor adventurers can help prevent injuries by:
* Maintaining their levels of fitness, knowing their skill levels and experience, and not exceeding their limits.
* Checking and maintaining their equipment and replacing if needed.
* Carrying a first-aid kit
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