Development of a Simulator to Visualize the Process Leading to Fall Accidents

Measurement of Climbing Behavior Characteristics of Infants and Calculation of Accident Route and Time

Abstract

Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of childhood death and falls in particular are the most common mechanism of death and serious injuries. In this study, first, in order to understand the environment in which falls actually occurred, the authors visited 27 houses and analyzed the characteristics of the sites where falls occurred by measuring three-dimensional shape data using a scanner. Next, based on the characteristics of the sites, experiments were conducted with 37 infants aged 13 to 45 month-old on climbing capability and moving speed that have not yet been elucidated conventionally. Finally, based on the behavioral characteristics revealed by the measurement results, a fall simulator was built. This simulator allows us to predict whether or not fall accidents occur, the routes that lead to the accidents, and the approximate time until the accidents occurs, depending on the shape data on the target environment, the developmental stage of the target child and the child’s location.