Snow shovel–related injuries and medical emergencies treated in US EDs, 1990 to 2006

BackgroundInjuries and medical emergencies associated with snow shovel use are common in the United States.MethodsThis is a retrospective analysis of data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. This study analyzes the epidemiologic features of snow shovel–related injuries and medical emergencies treated in US emergency departments (EDs) from 1990 to 2006.ResultsAn estimated 195 100 individuals (95% confidence interval, 140 400-249 800) were treated in US EDs for snow shovel–related incidents during the 17-year study period, averaging 11 500 individuals annually (SD, 5300). The average annual rate of snow shovel–related injuries and medical emergencies was 4.15 per 100 000 population. Approximately two thirds (67.5%) of these incidents occurred among males. Children younger than 18 years comprised 15.3% of the cases, whereas older adults (55 years and older) accounted for 21.8%. The most common diagnosis was soft tissue injury (54.7%). Injuries to the lower back accounted for 34.3% of the cases. The most common mechanism of injury/nature of medical emergency was acute musculoskeletal exertion (53.9%) followed by slips and falls (20.0%) and being struck by a snow shovel (15.0%). Cardiac-related ED visits accounted for 6.7% of the cases, including all of the 1647 deaths in the study. Patients required hospitalization in 5.8% of the cases. Most snow shovel–related incidents (95.6%) occurred in and around the home.ConclusionsThis is the first study to comprehensively examine snow shovel–related injuries and medical emergencies in the United States using a nationally representative sample. There are an estimated 11 500 snow shovel–related injuries and medical emergencies treated annually in US EDs.