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Deanie Wimmer Reporting The American Academy of Pediatrics is calling for an overhaul of a grocery store staple. Researchers want tougher standards and better design for shopping carts, and when you see the injury numbers Deanie found, you'll understand why.
Each year, 23-thousand children are treated in hospital ERs for injuries involving shopping carts. While I was preparing this story, almost every woman I talked with, had had an incident or close call.
Donut bribes are just one tactic moms use to keep kids inside the shopping cart.
Kelly Manwaring, Mom: "One of them will be sitting down being nice, and the other will start bugging the other one and pretty soon they're standing up and it's wiggling."
The American Academy of Pediatrics warns parents should think twice about safety before putting their child in a cart. Researchers have recommended new designs, even new laws, to prevent thousands of serious injuries and even deaths that occur, most frequently, when children fall out or tip over.
Janet Brooks, Primary Children's Medical Center: "The most common types of injuries that we see related to shopping cart incidents are head and neck injuries."
The report also urged parents and stores to do a better job making sure carts are used cautiously.
Janet Brooks, Primary Children's Medical Center: "I don't think that any one of us as a parent would intentionally hurt our children, but it just takes a second for something to happen."
Marla Burns, Mom: "You always hear it just takes a second for something to happen. Something did happen, and in that second we were lucky nothing did happen."
Ashley, 4: "I pulled a cart over."
She pulled a cart over the other day, but thankfully has only a bruise to show for it. Her one-year old sister wasn't hurt.
Researchers suggest when you go to a store, look for one of these car carts. Kids not only like them better, but they're safer, because they're closer to the ground. Better yet, researchers say don't bring kids shopping, or bring a second adult to manage the kids while you manage the groceries.
That may not be realistic, so here are some other ways to Stay Safe:
-Use the seat belts or harnesses in a shopping cart.
-Never leave your child a lone in a cart.
-And don't let kids ride in the basket or on the outside of the cart.
