PERSONAL WATERCRAFT-RELATED INJURIES - A GROWING PUBLIC-HEALTH CONCERN

Context.-An increase in the recreational use of personal watercraft (P WC) raises concern about an increase in associated injuries on a natio nal level. Objective.-To estimate the relative frequency, types of inj ury, and demographic features of persons injured while using PWC in th e United States. Design.-Case series. Setting.-Emergency department (E D) visits to hospitals participating a national probability sample. Pa rticipants.-All persons treated for PWC-related injury from January 1, 1990, through December 31, 1995. Results.-An estimated 32 954 persons (95% confidence interval [CI], 22919-42 989) with PWC-related injurie s were treated in US hospital EDs, of which 3.5% were hospitalized. Pe rsonal watercraft-related injuries have increased significantly from a n estimated 2860 in 1990 to more than 12 000 in 1995. During this peri od, the number of PWC in operation increased 3-fold from approximately 241 500 in 1990 to an estimated 760 000 in 1995. The most prevalent d iagnoses were lacerations, contusions, and fractures. Main Outcome Mea sures.-The estimated number and percentage of patients treated in EDs for PWC-related injuries, by year, age, sex, and the number and rate p er 1000 of PWC in operation by year. Conclusions.-Since 1990, there ha s been at least a 4-fold increase in injuries associated with an incre ase in the recreational use of PWC. The rate of ED-treated injuries re lated to PWC was about 8.5 times higher (95% CI, 8.2-8.8; 1992 data) t han the rate of those from motorboats. Specific training and adult sup ervision is recommended for miners using PWC. Furthermore, medical pra ctitioners should encourage personal flotation device use and other pr otection for their patients who are known water enthusiasts.