Rain Falls, Leaves Fall, Humpty Dumpty Falls . . . Kids Shouldn’t

FALL is the gorgeous time of year that usually brings a welcome relief from the lingering summer heat. Sadly, FALLS are the leading cause of non-fatal injuries for children in the United States.

In 2013, unintentional falls resulted in nearly 2.5 million pediatric injuries requiring treatment in an emergency room. These injuries resulted from activities such as climbing on furniture, playing near an unsecured window, falling down stairs or playing on playgrounds.

I vividly recall a routine shopping trip that was abruptly transformed into a safety advocate’s worst fear when a toddler suddenly propelled over the side of a shopping cart and landed skull first with a deafening thud on the cement floor.

Though some caregivers assume that falls aren’t that big of a deal or are an expected occurrence among growing children, the fact remains that falls are preventable. The Safety and Advocacy team at Primary Children’s have put together some time-tested interventions to prevent falls and those stressful trips to the Emergency Department.

Tips to Prevent Falls

• Window Screens are meant to keep bugs out, not children in. Properly install window guards and for windows above the first floor, include an emergency release device in case of fire.
• Keep babies and young kids strapped in when using high chairs, infant carriers, swings or strollers. When placing your baby into a carrier, remember to place the carrier on the floor, not on top of a table or other furniture.
• Use approved safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs and attach them to the wall, if possible.
• Secure TVs and furniture to the wall using mounts, brackets, braces, anchors or wall straps to prevent tip-overs.
• Don’t let children climb on furniture or use drawers or shelves as steps.
• Take your children to playgrounds with shock-absorbing surfaces such as rubber, synthetic turf, sand, pea gravel, wood chips or mulch. If your child falls, the landing will be more cushioned than on asphalt, concrete, grass or dirt.
• Use only un-wheeled baby walkers. They will help prevent the walkers from rolling down the stairs. Try using a stationary activity center rather than a walker.
• Children should always wear an appropriate helmet for activities such as biking or snowboarding to prevent a head injury.
• Don’t leave your child alone in a shopping cart and actively supervise the kids during the entire shopping trip.
• Consider anti-slip rugs for the floors in your home. Mats and decals in the bath tub or shower can also help prevent dangerous falls.

Don’t FALL for the easy way out. Let’s FALL into the habit of creating a safe and injury-free environment for our children. You can learn more about preventing falls and a variety of other safety topics by visiting primarychildrens.org/safety.

Window Falls Safety Video