Putting infants and toddlers on travel suitcases or baggage carts at airports can lead to serious safety accidents, South Korea's consumer protection agency has warned.
The Korea Consumer Agency said Wednesday that its analysis of airport safety incidents reported to the Consumer Injury Surveillance System (CISS) showed that more than half—54.8 percent (34 cases)—of the 62 accidents over the past six years involved children aged seven or younger.
The analysis found that in the unique airport environment, accidents frequently occurred when young children climbed onto travel suitcases and fell off, or collided with or got their hands caught in baggage carts. Injuries from machinery such as baggage screening equipment and conveyor belts were also common.
Falls from travel suitcases totaled 14 cases, all involving children aged zero to five. Children aged one to three accounted for more than 80 percent of these incidents, showing that accidents are concentrated among age groups whose walking and balance abilities are not fully developed.
The concern is that many of these falls result in serious injuries. Of the 14 suitcase fall cases, 92.9 percent (13 cases) involved injuries to the head and face, with some cases confirming serious trauma including concussions and tooth avulsions. The agency explained that young children have immature body control and proportionally larger heads, making them more likely to hit the ground head-first when falling.
Accidents involving baggage carts are also recurring. Of the 12 baggage cart safety incidents over the past six years, 75 percent (9 cases) involved children aged six or younger. The most common type was hands getting caught in cart gaps, followed by facial injuries from collisions and falls. With carts standing approximately one meter tall, young children's faces and eyes are at direct impact height, officials noted.
Baggage screening equipment and conveyor belts also require caution. There have been cases at domestic airports where young children injured their fingers by putting them into security screening devices. Overseas, incidents have been reported where children climbed onto conveyor belts and traveled into baggage handling areas before being rescued. In the past, fatal accidents have occurred with children getting caught between belts.
"Travel suitcases and baggage carts are not designed to carry people," the Korea Consumer Agency warned. "Transporting young children on them means a small lapse in attention can lead to a major accident."
The agency added: "Near conveyor belts and machinery, guardians should carry young children or hold their hands and keep them close. Extra caution is needed to ensure children do not leave guardians' sight even in airport play facilities or waiting areas."
