Should kids ride ATVs?

Although all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) look fun, they are not toys. Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. Product Safety Commission recommend never riding an ATV if you are under the age of 16. That’s because an ATV weighs more than 600 pounds and can travel over 60 miles per hour, similar to a motor vehicle. ATVs, however, lack the safety mechanisms featured in cars.
Lindsay Clukies, MD, a WashU Medicine pediatric emergency medicine physician at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, shares three safety recommendations for older children who want to ride an ATV.
Always wear a helmet. It’s recommended that while riding an ATV, you wear a motorcycle-style helmet with full-face shield. You should always dress the part by wearing sturdy closed-toe shoes and form-fitting clothes as well as gloves and eye protection.
An ATV is made for off-road travel. They are not designed for paved surfaces. Unfortunately, emergency department doctors see a significant number of accidents and injuries from riding on roadways or paved streets.
You should never carry a passenger. Most ATVs have one seat, and they’re designed for one rider only, but unfortunately, children are still injured while riding on the lap of a family member or friend.
In case of a medical emergency with a child, determine where the nearest accredited, Level I pediatric trauma center is located. St. Louis Children’s Hospital has six pediatric emergency department locations across the St. Louis and southern Illinois region. These include St. Louis Children’s Hospital,Children’s Hospital at Memorial Hospital Belleville,Children’s Hospital at Memorial Hospital Shiloh,Children’s Hospital at Missouri Baptist Medical Center,Children’s Hospital at Northwest HealthCare and Children’s Hospital at Progress West Hospital.
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The St. Louis Children’s Hospital KZbin station is intended as a reference and information source only. If you suspect you have a health problem, you should seek immediate care with the appropriate health care professionals. The information on this website is not a substitute for professional care, and must not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. For help finding a doctor, St. Louis Children's Hospital Answer Line may be of assistance at 314.454.KIDS (5437). The opinions expressed in these videos are those of the individual writers, not necessarily St. Louis Children's Hospital or Washington University School of Medicine. BJC HealthCare and Washington University School of Medicine assume no liability for the information contained in this website or for its use.