Forensic medical assessment of amusement park injuries

Year 2024, Volume: 1 Issue: 3, 185 - 189, 11.10.2024

Ümit Şimşek , Bahadır Saka , Tuğrul Kılıboz , Neslihan Polat , Ömer Seyda Köse , Kenan Karbeyaz

https://doi.org/10.70058/cjm.1530368

Abstract

Objective: Amusement park injuries can cause significant harm, especially in children and adolescents. This study aims to evaluate the cases of amusement park injuries presented to the Forensic Medicine Department in Eskişehir/Turkey over a 10-year period, to publish the characteristics of the injuries and demographic data with the literature.
Method: Cases of amusement park injuries presented to the Forensic Medicine Department of Eskişehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine(Turkey) between 2014-2023 were retrospectively evaluated. Age, gender, injury patterns, and the content of forensic reports of the cases were assessed.
Results: Over the 10-year period, 12 cases of amusement park injuries were reported to our department. Eight cases were male and four were female, with the youngest case being 13 and the oldest 23 years old. Nine cases involved falls and dragging, two involved falls and being trapped under objects, and one involved being crushed. Six cases sustained injuries that could be managed with simple medical intervention, six required more extensive medical care, and one was life-threatening.
Conclusion: Amusement park injuries are forensic cases. There is confusion regarding responsibility and legislation. Legal regulations and more effective inspections are needed for the legal process in injury cases. It is essential for physicians in emergency departments to recognize that amusement park injuries are forensic cases and report them accordingly.
Keywords: Amusement Park, Injury, Forensic Medicine

Keywords

Amusement Park, Injury, Forensıc medicine

Ethical Statement

Çalışma ile ilgili olarak Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi Girişimsel Olmayan Klinik Araştırmalar Etik Kurulu’nun 26.07.2024 tarihli ve 153 karar sayılı onayı alınmıştır.

References

• Braksiek RJ, Roberts DJ. Amusement park injuries and deaths. Ann Emerg Med. 2002;39(1):65-72. doi:10.1067/mem.2002.120127
• Olympia RP, Brady J, Rupp V, Lansenderfer C. Emergency department visits from a local amusement park. J Emerg Med. 2011;41(1):14-20. doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2008.04.052
• Woodcock, K. Global incidence of theme park and amusement ride accidents. Safety science, 2019;113, 171-179.
• Lee JH, Sim MS, Song HG. The Clinical Characteristics of Amusement-park-related Injuries. Journal of Trauma and Injury, 2009;22(1), 103-107.
• Loder RT, Feinberg JR. Emergency department visits secondary to amusement ride injuries in children. J Pediatr Orthop. 2008;28(4):423-426. doi:10.1097/BPO.0b013e318175ca9d
• Avery B, Dickson DR. Insight into amusement park ride and device safety in the United States. Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, 2010; 2(3), 299-315.
• McFaull SR, Keays G. Emergency department presentations for injuries associated with inflatable amusement structures, Canada, 1990-2009. Chronic Dis Inj Can. 2013;33(3):129-136.
• Pelletier AR, Gilchrist J. Roller coaster related fatalities, United States, 1994--2004. Inj Prev. 2005;11(5):309-312. doi:10.1136/ ip.2005.008425
• Deniz T, Kandiş H, Ülger H, Agalar F. Emergency Service Applications After Amusement Park Accident. Academic Emergency Medicine Case Reports Journal 2010;1(1):21-3.
• Guide to the Evaluation of Injury Crimes Defined in the Turkish Penal Code from the Perspective of Forensic Medicine. Accessed: https://www.atk.gov.tr/tckyaralama24-06-19.pdf Access date: 01/09/2024
• Güven FMK, Bütün C, Beyaztaş FY, Eren ŞH, Korkmaz Evaluation of forensic cases applied to I. Cumhuriyet University Medical Faculty Hospital. ADÜ Medical Faculty Journal 2009; 10: 23 – 28
• Çelik Y, Kılıboz T, Doğan B, Garbioğlu A, Şimşek Ü, Karbeyaz, K. Evaluation of Forensic Reports in Terms of Life-Threat Criteria. Osmangazi Medical Journal. 2021;43(4), 308-317.
• Korkmaz T, Kahramansoy N, Erkol Z, Sarıçil F, Kılıç A. Evaluation of Forensic Cases Applied to the Emergency Service and Prepared Forensic Reports. Haseki Medical Bulletin. 2012;50(1):14- 20.
• Türkmen N, Akgöz S, Çoltu A, Ergin N. (2005). Evaluation of forensic cases applied to the emergency department of Uludağ University Faculty of Medicine. Uludağ University Faculty of Medicine Journal. 2005;31(1), 25-9.
• Çelikel A, Karbeyaz K, Akkaya H, Aslıyüksel H. Burn Cases Reflected in the Forensic Medicine Department; Eskişehir Experience. Mustafa Kemal University Medical Journal, 2012;3:9- 18
• Thompson MC, Chounthirath T, Xiang H, Smith GA. US pediatric injuries involving amusement rides, 1990-2010. Clinical pediatrics, 2013;52(5), 433-440.
• Woodcock K. Amusement ride injury data in the United States. Safety science, 2014;62, 466-474.
• Eid R, Raj A, Farber D, Puri V, Bertolone S. Spinal Cord Infarction in Hemoglobin SC Disease as an Amusement Park Accident. Pediatrics. 2016;138(3):e20154020. doi:10.1542/peds.2015-4020