Using mental mapping to unpack perceived cycling risk.

Cycling is the most energy-efficient mode of transport and can bring extensive environmental, social and economic benefits. Research has highlighted negative perceptions of safety as a major barrier to the growth of cycling. Understanding these perceptions through the application of novel place-sensitive methodological tools such as mental mapping could inform measures to increase cyclist numbers and consequently improve cyclist safety.

Pediatric "off-road vehicle" trauma: determinants of injury severity and type.

Objectives: This study aimed to describe the determinants of the severity and type of injuries sustained by children hurt in off-road vehicle (ORV) accidents.

Methods: This was a retrospective clinical study for which data were obtained from the trauma database at the Children's Hospital at Westmead covering the 10-year period between January 1, 1998, and December 31, 2007. Data points collected included age, sex, Injury Severity Score (ISS), body region injured, type of vehicle, accident setting, mechanism of injury, estimated speed, position of the rider, use of a helmet and/or protective clothing, and hospital length of stay.

Bystander basic life support: an important link in the chain of survival for children suffering a drowning or near-drowning episode.

Eight children suffered drowning or near-drowning in Sydney pools over an 11-day period in January 2007. Four received basic life support (BLS) within 5 minutes of immersion and survived with good functional neurological outcomes. The other four were not discovered for >or= 5 minutes and all died.

Transfer of pediatric trauma patients to a tertiary pediatric trauma centre: appropriateness and timeliness.

Objective: To study the appropriateness of, and time taken, to transfer pediatric trauma patients in New South Wales to The Children's Hospital at Westmead (CHW), a pediatric trauma center.

Methods: All trauma patients transferred to CHW from June 2003 to July 2004 were included in the study. Indications and time periods relevant to the transfer of the patient from the referring institute were retrieved and analyzed.