Falls from Shopping Carts Cause Head Injuries to Children

Falls from shopping carts are among the leading causes of head injuries to young children treated in hospital emergency rooms. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated that in just one year about 12,000 young children were treated in hospital emergency rooms for head injuries. That is about 1,000 per month. These injuries were usually due to falls from shopping carts. About one-third of these head injuries were concussions, fractures, or internal injuries. Overall, shopping-cart-related injuries doubled in the last decade. Shopping carts are often used in hardware stores, drugstores, toy stores, and grocery stores.

Responsible manufacturers are now equipping their shopping carts with seat belts to restrain children who ride in them. They are also designing their carts so that they are less likely to tip over with the movement of a young child. However, you will always need to closely supervise your child when they are riding in a shopping cart.