Even more striking, the study also noted that the number of computer-related injuries far exceeded the number of new computers brought into American homes. Computer ownership in U.S. households rose by 309 percent during the period, but computer injuries soared 732 percent.

Since only 100 hospitals were covered in the study, the researchers believe that the increase in computer injuries may be larger if all hospitals in the country were covered.

In terms of the larger picture, computer injuries are a very small proportion of the total emergency room visits in a year (115 million in 2006). The top causes for emergency room treatments are still gunshots and vehicular accidents.

But though computer injuries may never get to the top 10 reasons for emergency treatments, this should not trivialize the dangers of computer injuries: if a laptop falls on the head of a child, that emergency room visit becomes vitally important to you.

And, computer equipment falling on a person was the most common cause (21.1 percent) for computer-related visits to hospital emergency rooms. Persons tripping on wires or falling on computers occurred only 18.2 percent of the time.

There was a 7 percent greater chance of males getting computer-related injuries than females. Most of the time, the injuries occurred while people were moving a computer or peripheral equipment.

The findings were culled from 78,703 emergency room reports submitted by 100 hospitals nationwide. The study included researchers from the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Center for Injury Research and Policy in Columbus, Ohio as part of a survey for the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission.

The most alarming item noted in the report was the huge increase in the number of children suffering computer-related injuries. Along with the marked increase in overall number of people receiving emergency treatment for computer injuries, the proportion of children was steadily getting bigger.

The highest injury rate occurred among children under 5 years old, and they also had the biggest rate increase in number of computer injuries. This may reflect the reality that a lot of young children are using computers nowadays.

Your child could be at risk.

Safety Tips:

• Keep computer equipment away from edges.
• Place computers on strong, stable furniture.
• Secure all wires and cords; keep them out of children’s reach.