User:MrTiger888/sandbox

=Prevention=

Children have immature flexible bone, looser ligaments and tendons, and less fat. When they are in a collision the force spreads throughout their body result in in a more sever injury. Automobile accidents and bike accidents are the majority for this group. McFayden, J.G. Ramiah, R., Bhananker, S.M (2012). Initial of pediatric trama patients. International Journal of Critical Illness and Injury Science,2(3), 111-113. Parents can protect their children under 8 by securely strapping them into a car seat. They can also remind their children not to take their bicycle near high traffic streets and requiring them to be home before dark.

As people age the risk of flail chest increases. Bones become more brittle, the senses become less sharp, and reaction time slow. All of these contribute to more broken bones during a collision. Flail chest has been associated with a 132% increase of mortality per decade after age 55. The elderly can lower their risk of falling by installing strategically placed bars in the bathroom, using commodes, installing shower benches, participating in strength and balance exercises and using assistive walking devices in necessary. The risk of thoracic automobile injuries has a great increase at age 40 regardless of utilizing a safety belt. By age 65, the elderly can only withstand 30% of the concentrated seat belt force they used to be able to handle. Stizel, J. D., Kilgo Developing safety belts that are better at dispersing force of the impact will increase the safety of this age group. There is not a specific age when someone is too old to drive, but families need to be realistic about the capabilities of their loved one and should encourage their elderly family members become unsafe to drive.

Sports like motor-cross, downhill skiing, skateboarding, and equestrian sports have a higher risk for thoracic injuries than contact sports. In high contact sports such as football and soccer, the chance of getting flail chest is minimal. Surprisingly motor-cross sports experience a lower rate of flail chest and incidences of death than elite equestrian sports. This is largely due to lack of adequate protective equipment in equestrian sports.