July 24, 2017
It’s alarming how quickly things can spiral out of control. One moment, my 3-year-old was nestled in the shopping cart basket, and the next, I heard a loud crash. My 8-year-old had somehow flipped the cart over, leaving it toppled on its side.
In that split second, fear gripped my heart. My younger son was okay, hanging onto the cart’s wire mesh, but my older son was frozen in shock, tears brimming in his eyes. A kind passerby rushed over, anxious to check if my son was unharmed. Thankfully, he nodded, confirming he hadn’t hit his head. We managed to right the cart and continued our Target adventure, shaken but relieved.
This incident served as a stark reminder of how quickly accidents can happen. While we were lucky, the reality is that a staggering 24,000 children under 15 are injured by shopping carts every year, according to a 2014 study from Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. From 1990 to 2011, an estimated 530,494 children were treated in emergency rooms for shopping cart-related injuries—about 66 kids every day.
In 2004, ASTM International introduced new safety standards for shopping carts, but these primarily focused on labeling and restraint systems—warnings and safety belts that many carts still lack. Gary Smith, MD, Dr.PH, who co-authored the study, emphasized that the implementation of these standards has not led to a decrease in overall child injuries involving shopping carts. In fact, the rates of concussions and head injuries have surged.
Research shows that 70.4% of shopping cart injuries stem from falls, with head injuries being the most common. Disturbingly, between 1990 and 2011, cases of concussions and internal head injuries among young children increased dramatically from 3,483 to 12,333. The majority of these injuries were seen in children aged four and younger.
Even more concerning, children under five accounted for a staggering 79% of head injuries, with 92% of these incidents involving infants below one year old. It’s crucial to note that many parents make the risky choice of placing infant car seats on top of shopping carts. An Ohio mom shared her frightening experience when a gust of wind toppled her cart, sending her baby’s carrier crashing down. Both car seat and grocery cart manufacturers explicitly warn against this dangerous practice.
While some children have been fortunate enough to have their falls averted, like the heroic Home Depot worker who saved a child from a similar situation, not everyone is so lucky. A tragic case in Macon, Georgia, involved a 3-month-old who died when his carrier fell off a shopping cart after it was pushed over a bump.
So, what can parents do to keep their little ones safe? Although it may sound unrealistic, leaving children at home or having someone accompany you with a stroller is beneficial. Babywearing is another option that many parents find helpful. Seek out stores with enclosed play areas, though they’re rare. Also, be mindful of your child’s growth—once they can stand, ensure they are securely belted in and try to minimize their access to tempting merchandise.
At the end of the day, the best strategies include babywearing, using a stroller, or securely buckling in your kids and hoping for the best. I’ll be doing plenty of praying—or encouraging my little ones to walk.
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In summary, shopping carts can pose significant risks to young children. It’s essential for parents to be vigilant and take necessary precautions to ensure their kids’ safety while shopping.
Keyphrase: shopping cart safety
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