SEDL / STP / STP1313-EB / STP11863S

Youth Baseball Deaths And Injuries

Kyle, SB
Project Manager, Baseball Protective Equipment, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Bethesda, MD

Adler, PW
Statistician, Division of Hazard Analysis, Directorate for Epidemiology and Health Sciences, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Bethesda, MD

Pages: 12    Published: Jan 1997

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Abstract

There are an average of 3 to 4 deaths per year to children under age 15 in association with baseball (including softball and tee-ball). In 1994, there were an estimated 181,000 baseball-related injuries to this age group. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) data indicate that the rate of injury was higher among 10 to 14 year olds than among 5 to 9 year olds. In 1994, most injuries to 5 to 9 year olds occurred in the head/neck region; injuries to the face accounted for the highest percent. For the 10 to 14 year olds, head/neck and upper limb injuries each contributed approximately 30 to 40 percent of the injuries; injuries to the face and fingers predominated. A CPSC special survey on how these injuries occur is planned.