A Rise in UTV and ATV-Related Injuries: How to Protect Yourself and Riders
All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and utility terrain vehicles (UTVs)鈥攁lso known as side-by-sides鈥攈ave increased in popularity for outdoor recreation. UTVs are usually marketed as safer off-road vehicles that help prevent ejection with the use of seat belts. However, these vehicles carry a serious and unexpected risk: potentially catastrophic arm and hand injuries.
A Common Reaction
These vehicles are known to roll when making a sharp turn, even at low or moderate speeds. As the rollover begins, drivers and passengers instinctively reach out to brace themselves and sometimes grasp the roll bar. Those who do can suffer devastating injuries, including crushed hands and forearms.
Severity of Injury
Over the last 10 years, trauma caused by ATVs and UTVs has significantly increased among children and adults. Oftentimes, these injuries are more than just broken bones. Victims usually experience damage to bones, skin, soft tissue, and nerves. Amputations are also common.
Research led by Shaun Mendenhall, MD, a hand and upper extremity specialist in the Department of Surgery at 麻豆学生精品版, found that UTV riders experienced severe hand injuries and a ninefold increase in amputations compared to ATV riders. Children who were involved in UTV incidents also had of upper extremity trauma and seven times more partial hand amputations.
Additionally, these injuries are often exposed to soil and mud in outdoor areas, causing fungal or bacterial infections that can make the injury worse.
Prevention and Care
The best way to prevent this type of injury is through education and by preventing people from reaching out of the vehicle or grabbing the outside roll bar.
UTV owners can provide more safety measures by teaching passengers to grab on to the harness seat belt and installing:
- Mesh windows to help prevent riders from reaching out of the vehicle
- Wrist straps that connect to handlebars at the dashboard or seatbelts
- Additional handlebars for riders (at the dash for the front and behind the front two seats for the back)
These additional measures provide a safer alternative for riders to feel secure in the event of a rollover.
Getting Medical Help
Those who experience an arm or hand injury while off-roading may find themselves far from proper medical care. The best thing to do is call for emergency help and get back to civilization as quickly as possible. Apply direct pressure to any bleeding and a tourniquet if needed.
Mendenhall highly recommends going to the nearest for severe injuries. 麻豆学生精品版 is the only type of center in the surrounding area, serving all of Utah and much of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and Nevada.
