I still can’t quite grasp how quickly things can change. Just a moment ago, my 3-year-old was safely nestled in the shopping cart basket. I turned my back for a split second, and then I heard a loud crash. My 7-year-old had somehow managed to tip the cart over, sending it crashing to the ground.
My younger son, while shaken, was unharmed, gripping the cart’s wire mesh. Meanwhile, my older son stood wide-eyed and horrified, hands clasped over his mouth, tears beginning to form. A kind stranger rushed over, asking, “Is he okay? Is he okay?” Thankfully, my younger son nodded, confirming he hadn’t hurt himself. We quickly righted the cart and continued our shopping at Target, still rattled by the incident.
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It was a stark reminder of how quickly accidents can occur. In that brief moment, the cart tipped over with my child inside, but fortunately, we escaped without injury. However, a 2014 study from Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, reveals that not every family is as lucky. An alarming 24,000 children under the age of 15 suffer injuries from shopping carts every year. This translates to roughly 66 children daily visiting the emergency room due to incidents involving one of the most common items found in retail stores.
In 2004, ASTM International introduced new safety standards for shopping carts, which primarily focused on labeling and restraint systems, as highlighted by Consumer Reports. Unfortunately, these standards are voluntary, meaning not all carts come equipped with safety labels or belts. Dr. Gary Smith, director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and co-author of the study, stated, “The overall number of child injuries related to shopping carts has not decreased since the new safety standards were implemented, and the number of concussions and closed head injuries is actually on the rise.”
Dr. Smith emphasizes the need for improved safety measures, suggesting design changes that include better restraint systems and lowering the child seating area closer to the ground. Such modifications could significantly reduce the risk of cart tip-overs by lowering the center of gravity. Shockingly, 70.4% of shopping cart-related injuries result from falls, with head injuries being the most prevalent. Between 1990 and 2011, cases of concussions and internal head injuries surged from 3,483 to 12,333, with the majority of these incidents involving children aged 4 and under.
The statistics are even more alarming when we consider children younger than 5, who accounted for 79% of head injuries; an astonishing 92% of those injuries occurred in infants under a year old. One mother in Ohio shared a harrowing story of her baby’s car seat toppling over after a gust of wind knocked the shopping cart off balance. Parents for Safer Shopping Carts warns that personal infant carriers are not designed for use on shopping carts, leading to numerous accidents in stores each year. Manufacturers of both car seats and shopping carts have issued warnings against this dangerous practice.
We’ve all seen the viral video of the heroic worker at Home Depot catching a child before disaster struck. Unfortunately, not all stories end happily. In 2011, a tragic incident in Macon, Georgia, involved a 3-month-old who died after his carrier fell from a cart that tipped over a speed bump. Additionally, a 3-year-old lost his life after standing up in a cart, causing it to tip.
What Can You Do to Keep Your Child Safe While Shopping?
Consumer Reports suggests several options: consider leaving your child at home, if possible (which is often easier said than done), or have someone accompany you to push a stroller. Babywearing is another effective strategy. If you have access to stores with enclosed play areas, utilize them. Most importantly, as your child grows, ensure they are securely belted in the cart and try to minimize their access to tempting merchandise.
As an average parent, your best bet is to babywear, utilize strollers, or make sure your kids are tightly strapped in and pray for safety. It’s a tough balance to strike.
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Summary
Shopping carts can pose significant dangers to children, particularly when infants are placed in car seats on top. With thousands of injuries occurring each year, it’s crucial for parents to be vigilant. Utilizing proper safety measures, such as securely strapping children into carts and avoiding placing car seats on top, can help prevent accidents.