Injuries from falling objects in the United Arab Emirates

Our aim was to study the demography, anatomical regions injured, severity, and outcome of hospitalised trauma patients who were injured by falling objects in order to give recommendations regarding their prevention in the UAE. All trauma patients who were injured by falling objects and were admitted to Al Ain Hospital for more than 24 hours, or died after arrival to the hospital were studied for over 3 years. One hundred forty nine patients having a mean age (SD) > 34 (12.1) years were studied. The annual incidence of hospitalisation was 10.7/100,000 persons per year. Majority (97.3%) were males and 73.2% from the Indian subcontinent. The most common location for injury was work (88.6%), followed by home (9.4%). Patients injured at home were younger (p < 0.0001), and were more females (p < 0.0001). Extremities and head/neck were the most common injured regions; 1.3% of patients died. Males from the Indian subcontinent are at a higher risk of being injured by falling objects especially at work. Safety education and programs, environmental changes, use of protective devices including helmets or special shoes, and proper enforcement of the safety guidelines could reduce hospitalisations, disability, and death from these injuries.