Glass-Topped Tables Injure Thousands Each Year


By Cara Roberts Murez
HealthDay Reporter


MONDAY, Sept. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — At Rutgers New Jersey Medical School’s trauma center, Dr. Stephanie Bonne and her team noticed a string of patient injuries caused by broken glass tables.

“They were quite serious, significant injuries that required pretty big operations and long hospital stays,” said Bonne, who is an assistant professor of surgery and trauma medical director. “We wanted to see, is there anything that’s known about this that we can figure out. And, if not, maybe we should talk about it.”

Bonne’s group found more than 3,200 U.S. cases of glass table-related injuries requiring trauma center care occurring between 2009 and 2015. The data was collected from the 96 sample hospitals included in the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database. More than half of the injuries were traced to faulty glass tables, the researchers noted.

Multiplying that by the almost 5,000 emergency care centers nationwide, Bonne’s team estimated there are about 13,800 U.S. cases of severe injury tied to glass tables each year.

The team also looked more closely at the 24 cases that their Level 1 trauma center treated between 2001 and 2016. In this smaller grouping, the investigators found that half of their patients experienced injuries to their deep organs, upper torso, abdomen or joint cavities and required surgery. About 8% died within a month of injury. Most of the injuries were suffered by children younger than age 7 or adults in their early 20s.

The findings were published online recently in the American Journal of Surgery.

“We really wrote this as a call to action for the Consumer Product Safety Commission and for there to be mandatory standards,” Bonne said.

The catalyst for the injuries varied, from kids jumping from couch to coffee table to someone accidentally dropping a wiggly child onto a table. Sometimes people were moving the furniture and the table broke in their hands. Other times, it collapsed when someone stood on it.

“It seems like it’s such an innocuous decision that can have such major impact,” Bonne said, of the choice to own a glass table.


Continued

“I think it’s important when you have children, when you have people who may fall in the house, to consider this when you’re considering whether this is the best choice for your dwelling,” Bonne said. “And also to encourage the manufacturers to recognize that this is a real problem and take it upon themselves to make sure that either glass is tempered or that it’s thick enough that it’s not liable to break.”

Bonne likened this to regulations that improved the safety of automobile glass.

“That was a really important public health advancement, so we can be doing the same thing for furniture,” Bonne said. Right now, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, tempered glass is required for doors but voluntary for horizontal surfaces in the United States, the researchers pointed out.

Bonne also suggested this information provides an opportunity for pediatricians to provide guidance, asking parents about glass tables in the home in the same way they might ask whether chemicals are secured or car seats are the appropriate size.

Though the breaking table glass can cause significant injuries, the numbers are small relative to other causes of serious injury, such as gunshot wounds, for which there were nearly 40,000 deaths in 2017. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also puts motor vehicle crash deaths at more than 38,000 in 2017 and estimates that for each death, nine people were hospitalized and 88 people were treated and released from emergency departments.

Even though the Rutgers trauma center saw a high percentage of severe cases for their patients who were injured by table glass, that can vary.

Dr. Sean McGann, an emergency physician for Jefferson Health in Philadelphia, has seen numerous minor glass table injuries, but has not treated anyone with the major table glass injuries described by the Rutgers trauma center team.

“If you take glass as a whole it’s a pretty significant injury mechanism, but I don’t know that, at least in my career, glass tables have been a significant mechanism,” said McGann, who is a spokesperson for the American College of Emergency Physicians. “Regardless of how often it happens, it does happen.”


Continued

Damaged glass can break into large, sharp shards that can act similar to a knife, causing lacerations and penetrating wounds. Parents can help prevent glass injuries — whether from furniture, windows or other sources — by practicing caution and supervising kids, McGann advised.

“With children, obviously, always keeping an eye on them and being aware of what they’re playing with and what they’re playing on, when it comes to glass and tables in general,” McGann added.



WebMD News from HealthDay


Sources

SOURCES: Stephanie Bonne, MD, assistant professor,  surgery, and trauma medical director, trauma center, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, N.J.; Sean McGann, MD, emergency physician, Jefferson Health, Philadelphia, and spokesperson, American College of Emergency Physicians;American Journal of Surgery, July 26, 2020, online




Copyright © 2013-2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.





Source link

36 thoughts on “Glass-Topped Tables Injure Thousands Each Year

  • July 15, 2023 at 2:09 pm
    Permalink

    I’m really inspired together with your writing abilities as smartly as
    with the structure on your weblog. Is this a paid theme
    or did you modify it yourself? Anyway stay up the nice quality writing, it’s rare to see a great weblog like this one nowadays..

  • July 15, 2023 at 7:07 pm
    Permalink

    I couldn’t resist commenting. Perfectly written!

  • July 17, 2023 at 5:31 am
    Permalink

    Hello to all, since I am actually keen of reading this web site’s post to be updated daily.
    It carries nice stuff.

  • August 3, 2023 at 5:47 pm
    Permalink

    Asking questions are really fastidious thing if you are not understanding anything fully,
    except this post provides fastidious understanding
    yet.

  • August 4, 2023 at 2:16 pm
    Permalink

    There is definately a lot to find out about this subject. I like all of the points you’ve made.

  • September 3, 2023 at 2:58 am
    Permalink

    Its not my first time to go to see this site, i am browsing this website dailly and take good information from here all the time.

  • September 3, 2023 at 3:04 am
    Permalink

    A motivating discussion is worth comment. I do believe
    that you should write more on this subject matter, it might not
    be a taboo subject but generally people don’t discuss these subjects.
    To the next! Cheers!!

  • September 3, 2023 at 3:32 am
    Permalink

    What’s up, I log on to your blog like every week. Your story-telling style is awesome,
    keep doing what you’re doing!

  • September 3, 2023 at 3:56 am
    Permalink

    Howdy exceptional blog! Does running a blog like this require a
    lot of work? I have very little understanding of coding however
    I was hoping to start my own blog in the near future.
    Anyhow, if you have any recommendations or techniques for new blog owners please share.
    I understand this is off topic nevertheless I simply wanted to
    ask. Cheers!

  • September 3, 2023 at 6:27 am
    Permalink

    Do you have a spam issue on this website; I also am a blogger, and I was curious about your situation;
    many of us have created some nice methods and we are looking
    to swap methods with others, be sure to shoot me an e-mail if interested.

  • September 3, 2023 at 6:47 am
    Permalink

    This blog was… how do I say it? Relevant!! Finally I’ve found something which helped me.
    Thanks!

  • September 3, 2023 at 8:05 am
    Permalink

    Today, I went to the beachfront with my children. I
    found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She placed the shell to her ear and screamed.
    There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her
    ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is
    completely off topic but I had to tell someone!

  • September 3, 2023 at 9:54 am
    Permalink

    We’re a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community.
    Your web site offered us with valuable information to work on. You
    have done an impressive job and our entire community will be grateful
    to you.

  • September 3, 2023 at 11:00 am
    Permalink

    Pretty! This has been an incredibly wonderful article.
    Thanks for supplying these details.

  • September 3, 2023 at 3:00 pm
    Permalink

    I love what you guys are usually up too. This sort of clever work and
    reporting! Keep up the terrific works guys I’ve added you guys to our blogroll.

  • September 3, 2023 at 3:46 pm
    Permalink

    My family members always say that I am wasting my time here at net, but I know I am getting knowledge all the time by reading thes good
    content.

  • September 3, 2023 at 6:24 pm
    Permalink

    Hurrah! Finally I got a blog from where I know how
    to truly obtain useful facts concerning my study and knowledge.

  • September 4, 2023 at 6:08 pm
    Permalink

    You have made some decent points there. I looked on the internet for additional information about the issue and found most individuals will go along with your views on this site.

  • September 6, 2023 at 9:15 am
    Permalink

    Wow, awesome blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?

    you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your web site is
    excellent, let alone the content!

  • September 6, 2023 at 3:40 pm
    Permalink

    Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is
    a very well written article. I will make sure to bookmark it and
    return to read more of your useful information. Thanks
    for the post. I will certainly return.

  • September 6, 2023 at 8:11 pm
    Permalink

    Lego can make an ordinary day extraordinary. The feeling
    of accomplishment and the joy that it brings are unsurpassed.
    february Lego blocks I
    asked a seller which LEGO set they thought was the best,
    and she recommended Baby Yoda. Cutest spaceship ever! Lego sets provide more
    than a simple toy. They can open the door to an exciting world of
    adventures and stories. There are infinite possibilities with Lego sets!

  • September 8, 2023 at 6:16 am
    Permalink

    These are some of the toughest commissions that have a close eye on thhe operators and overswee all of their activities.

    Also visit mmy webpage: Hortense

  • September 13, 2023 at 1:12 pm
    Permalink

    Lego Ideas brings to life the creations of Lego
    fans, and showcases their incredible talent. rechargeable Lego blocks The
    Taj Mahal LEGO Set is a magnificent masterpiece in bricks that architecture lovers will
    love! Lego Ideas allows fans to bring their creations to life and show off the creativity of the Lego community.

  • September 22, 2023 at 2:38 pm
    Permalink

    I truly love your site.. Very nice colors & theme. Did you make this
    website yourself? Please reply back as I’m looking to create my very own blog and would love to find out
    where you got this from or exactly what the theme is
    called. Cheers!

  • October 9, 2023 at 10:41 pm
    Permalink

    I have been exploring for a bit for any high quality articles or blog posts on this sort of house .

    Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this site. Reading
    this info So i’m happy to show that I’ve a very good uncanny feeling I found out just
    what I needed. I so much surely will make certain to do not omit this web site and provides it a glance regularly.

  • October 10, 2023 at 3:04 pm
    Permalink

    bookmarked!!, I love your web site!

  • October 10, 2023 at 3:05 pm
    Permalink

    Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it.
    Look advanced to far added agreeable from you!
    By the way, how could we communicate?

  • October 10, 2023 at 3:07 pm
    Permalink

    Hi there just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The words in your content
    seem to be running off the screen in Safari.
    I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something to do
    with browser compatibility but I figured I’d post to let you know.
    The design and style look great though! Hope you get the problem fixed
    soon. Many thanks

  • October 14, 2023 at 7:35 am
    Permalink

    It’s hard to come by experienced people in this particular
    topic, but you seem like you know what you’re talking about!

    Thanks

  • October 14, 2023 at 7:43 am
    Permalink

    I got this web site from my friend who shared with me on the topic of this web
    page and at the moment this time I am visiting
    this website and reading very informative articles
    at this place.

  • October 14, 2023 at 7:49 am
    Permalink

    Hi there would you mind stating which blog platform you’re working with?
    I’m planning to start my own blog in the near
    future but I’m having a difficult time selecting between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal.
    The reason I ask is because your design seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something
    unique. P.S Apologies for getting off-topic but I had to ask!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.