Shopping Carts
The Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital recently
published new research on shopping cart-related injuries to children. While this is not a full
toolkit, we have provided social media posts that are available for you to use to promote
shopping cart safety. You may use these posts or create your own from the following tips:
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Whenever possible, choose alternatives to placing your child in a shopping cart.
If you need to transport your child in a shopping cart, always use the shopping cart
safety straps. Be sure your child is snugly secured in the straps and that the child’s
legs are placed through the leg openings. If parts of the cart restraint system are
missing or are not working, choose another cart.
Use a cart that has a child seat that is low to the ground, if one is available.
Make sure your child remains seated.
Stay with the cart and your child at all times.
Avoid placing infant carriers on top of shopping carts. If your child is not old enough to sit
upright by himself in the shopping cart seat, consider other options such as leaving your
child at home with another adult while you are at the store, using in-store supervised child
care areas, using a front- or back-pack carrier, or using a stroller.
This study evaluated whether the implementation of US voluntary safety standards for
shopping carts in 2004 had an effect on the rate of shopping cart-related injuries among
children. The new research, published in the January print issue of Clinical Pediatrics, shows
no decrease in the overall rate of shopping cart-related injuries and a concerning increase in
the rate of concussions and closed head injuries treated in U.S. emergency departments.
The study demonstrates that the voluntary standards have not been effective in preventing
shopping cart-related injuries among US children.. Dr. Gary Smith, the study's senior
author, is calling for improved standards for shopping carts to reduce the dangers to
children, including inclusion of a cart stability performance component and an improved
safety restraint component. In addition, increased public education and store-based
behavioral interventions could help prevent these injuries.
Thank you,
The Prevent Child Injury team
www.preventchildinjury.org