Bunk Bed Injuries in College Students |
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| Authors: | Dale K Dedrick MD Richard E Burney MD Robert N Hensinger MD James R Mackenzie MD |
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| Institution: | 1. The Department of Surgery , Section of Emergency Services , USA;2. The Section on Orthopedic Surgery, all at the University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, USA |
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| Abstract: | Abstract We surveyed 1,431 college seniors to investigate the frequency and severity of injury after falls from bed. This data was analyzed along with data obtained from both the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the armed forces. We found that falls from bed are common in young adults and that injuries are more likely to occur with falls from bunk or loft beds than from standard beds (p = 0.025). Falls were most common when students were climbing out of bed or were startled awake. Alcohol use was implicated in 36% of the falls. We recommend that the heights of nonstandard beds for students be lowered, that alarms and phones be placed within easy reach, and that sturdy, fixed devices be used to descend. Intoxicated individuals should be placed on standard beds or lower. |
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| Keywords: | alcohol brief intervention students |
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