HOUSTON, Jul 10, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Children riding all-terrain vehicles
need to be carefully supervised, a U.S. emergency medicine doctor cautioned.
Dr. James McCarthy of the University of Texas Medical School at Houston said
ATVs should be operated keeping basic rules of safety in mind. McCarthy, medical
director of the Emergency Center at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center in
Houston, said the emergency room has already treated multiple ATV accident
victims this summer.
In 2006, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported about 150,000
injuries and 555 fatalities involving ATVs. More than 100 of those fatalities
were children under age 16.
"ATVs are vehicles -- not toys," McCarthy said in a statement. "All-terrain
vehicles need to be driven responsibly. Alcohol and ATVs definitely do not mix."
He recommends:
-- Having all riders wear protective gear, especially a good helmet.
-- Always sticking to designated trails.
-- Not allowing young riders on adult-sized ATVs.
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