Internal Injuries from Crossbody Water Bottles: The "Invisible Major Injuries" That Occur the Moment You Fall While Running. There Are Cases Where 7-Year-Olds Have Undergone Pancreas and Spleen Removal Surgery / A Practical Guide for Immediate Measures by Families, Schools, and Manufacturers

1. What's Happening Now: "Everyday Items" Triggering Severe Accidents

• Re-highlighted in Today's (July 27, 2025) Reports
  An article from Yomiuri Shimbun Online (with topics distributed by various companies) reports that accidents involving severe injuries caused by water bottles slung across the body are occurring frequently, prompting medical professionals to issue warnings. The news itself revisits the ongoing alerts from medical and administrative sides over the past few years.Livedoor NewsLivedoor News
  
  
  

• Clear Warnings from Public Institutions
  On August 25, 2023, the Consumer Affairs Agency published warnings in "Child Safety Mail Vol.635" along with specific severe cases. Notable cases include a 9-year-old with a splenic injury, a 10-year-old with a small intestine rupture, and a 7-year-old who underwent removal of about 50% of the pancreas and the spleen. The following year, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology also distributed similar materials to each board of education, encouraging awareness and guidance in schools.CAASchool Safety Site
  
  
  

• Continuous Communication from Academic Societies
  The Japan Pediatric Society's "Injury Alert" has been sharing cases of pancreatic injuries caused by water bottles from an early stage. In 2024, they also touched on the dissemination of practical risk reduction measures, such as ideas to secure water bottles to clothing so they don't come to the front.Japan Pediatric SocietyJapan Pediatric Society
  
  

2. Why Do "Water Bottles" Injure Internal Organs? — From Medical and Mechanical Perspectives

2-1. Why Children's Abdomens Are More Susceptible (Age Characteristics)

• Children's abdomens have a larger proportion of organs compared to adults, and weaker protection from abdominal muscles, making them more prone to damage from external forces—this is clearly stated in official documents.Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

2-2. The Mechanism of "Running → Falling → 'Water Bottle Swings to the Front'"

• A crossbody water bottle easily swings to the front due to inertia, and at the moment of falling, the bottle acts like a wedge between the ground and the abdomen. The hard bottom and weight concentrate on the abdomen, potentially causing blunt trauma to the pancreas, spleen, and small intestine. Cases of small intestine rupture and splenic injury have been reported.CAAFNN Prime Online

2-3. The Pitfall of "Mild Pain but Severe Injury"

• Abdominal injuries can initially appear to have mild pain, but small intestine perforation steadily worsens over time, and splenic injury can cause referred pain to the left shoulder—these are medically organized insights. Attention is also needed for shock signs such as pallor, cold sweat, and rapid pulse.MSD ManualsMSD Manuals
  
  

3. Real Cases (From Published Examples)

• 9-year-old: Fell on a slope with a crossbody water bottle → splenic injury, ICU admission (discharged after 10 days with conservative treatment).CAA

• 10-year-old: Playing tag on the way to school → small intestine rupture and generalized peritonitis requiring emergency surgery.CAA

• 7-year-old: Fell on the way to school → water bottle wedged in abdomen, resulting in removal of about 50% of the pancreas and the spleen.CAAMinistry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and TechnologyMinistry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
  
  
  

※This information is based on accident data collected by the Consumer Affairs Agency from medical institution networks and warnings from the Japan Pediatric Society.Fussa Third Junior High School

4. Situations and Conditions that Increase Risk

• Running during commuting/school dismissal / Hard ground on stairs, slopes, schoolyards.CAA
  
  

• Playing on playground equipment (risk of straps tangling around neck or arms, secondary risk of getting caught).Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
  
  

• Large and heavy water bottles (1L class, etc., increase impact energy). *The mechanical danger due to weight aligns with administrative data examples (1L water bottle).CAA
  
  

• Ways of wearing straps that easily swing to the front (insufficient adjustment, dangling in front of the body).WithNews
  
  

5. Top Priority Measures — "Don't Wear Crossbody" / "Don't Let It Come to the Front"

5-1. Basics Parents Can Do at Home

1. Put it in a backpack or school bag (side pocket + band fixation is ideal).Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
   
   

2. Don't run while shoulder carrying, remove it when playing on equipment (enforce "put it down and play").Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
   
   

3. Tips for when shoulder carrying is unavoidable
   - Fixation to prevent swinging to the front: Ideas like using a clip to secure the strap to the hem of clothing (e.g., "Water Bottle Crossbody Stopper") can help prevent swinging to the front. *Check the strength and detachment (detaches in emergencies) of commercial or homemade fixatives, and manage the risk of choking and snagging simultaneously.Japan Pediatric Society
   - Adjust strap length: Shorten it so that the bottom of the water bottle is slightly above the pelvis, making it less likely to swing forward.
   - Lighten the load: Review capacity, material, and filling amount, carry only what's necessary, and hydrate at school.WithNews
   
   

4. Tangle prevention: Using breakaway straps (detaches under certain loads) is an option. However, since they are not foolproof, it's a principle to remove them when using playground equipment.##HTML_TAG_