ATV Injury Prevention
Youth who live and work on farms and non-farming youth who visit farms are at high risk of ATV injuries. Youth on these farms experienced a total of 22,775 non-fatal injuries across all categories. Approximately 10% of these non-fatal injuries (2,342) were related to ATVs. Males accounted for 63% (1,471) of the ATV injuries.
Youth age 10 to 15 years were especially at risk and accounted for 73% of ATV injuries (Goldcamp, Myers, Kendricks, & Layne, 2004). According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission during 1982-2004, 31% (2,019) of ATV-related fatalities were to youth age 0-15 years (Ingle, 2004) and the cost of these injuries exceeded $6.5 billion annually in medical, legal, and work loss expenses. In 2000, the mean ATV injury hospital visit cost was $13,823. Seventy percent of this cost was paid by private insurance and 20% by public insurance. At 39%, in 2000, the Southern U.S. had the highest percentage of ATV injury hospitalizations (Killingsworth, Tilford, et. al, 2005). For the last few years Kentucky’s ATV death rate has been the highest in the nation, from 1989-2005, 364 deaths had occurred. During 2005 the ATV injury events that were investigated by the Kentucky State Police determined that 9 out of 10 riders were not wearing helmets (Mead & Kirby, 2005). The Brad’s Last Ride simulation and Cost Tools emphasize low-cost prevention strategies to reduce the occurrence and the costs of these preventable ATV injuries.