After the success of the 1980 film Urban Cowboy, mechanical bull riding became increasingly popular for adults, usually being found at country-western bars.
But in recent years, modified smaller bulls — surrounded by a cushioned area — have become popular attractions at birthday parties and other events for children.
However, new research conducted by Dr. Suresh Magge, pediatric neurosurgeon and co-medical director of CHOC Neuroscience Institute, and colleagues suggests mechanical bull riding can pose significant dangers for children.
Is mechanical bull riding safe for kids?
No. The lack of safety measures and precautions for mechanical bull riding for kids is concerning. There are often no age or height requirements or safety equipment like helmets offered for riders.
“We need to have a better awareness of the risks associated with these rides,” Dr. Magge says.
“I hope that better safety measures can be instituted, such as age restrictions for children, helmet requirements, and automatic mechanisms to shut off the machine once a rider has fallen. These are only potential ideas, but we need to have this conversation.”
Can kids get hurt from riding mechanical bulls?
Yes.
“We noticed a pattern of kids falling off mechanical bull rides and sustaining serious head injuries,” Dr. Magge says. “Surprisingly, we found that most of the injuries were not due to the fall itself, due to significant padding on the ground. Instead, the injury often took place when the child didn’t get out of the way in time before the mechanical bull spun back around and hit the child in the head.”
Dr. Magge and co-authors Drs. Jordan Wu, David Gibbs, James Cappon and William Loudon, and Amy Waunch and Anthony Vargas published their findings in a paper titled, “No More Bull: Pediatric Head Injuries as a Result of Mechanical Bull Rides.”
The nine patients who participated in the study ranged from ages 4 to 14. Six had skull fractures from being hit by the bull swinging around; the seventh patient suffered a ruptured eardrum, the eighth had a seizure after a head injury from the bull; and the ninth patient had an elbow fracture. Five of the patients required surgery.
“The severity of these injuries is extremely concerning,” Dr. Magge says. “These are preventable injuries, and I hope we can figure out ways of working with both regulating authorities and the companies who design the mechanical bulls to create safer rides.”
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