Know about fatal falls & accidental injury
in kids, causes of deaths and injuries in children and tips to
prevent falls and accidents in toddlers.
Fatal Falls & Accidental Injury In Kids
The most common reason for deaths in infants between 1 month and 1
year of age is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Next to it is
accidental injury due to falls from furniture, stairs or playground
equipment and other places. Falls can cause serious injury and even
turn fatal in young children less than four years old. The risk of
falls of course increase with increased mobility in the child. Babies
less than 5 months old have limited mobility and fall or suffer
injuries, mostly, due to caretaker's neglect or fault or the
environment. Here are some tips to prevent falls and accidental injury
in kids:
- Never allow the young sibling to carry the child around or he/she
may let the baby fall accidentally.
- Keep the floor clear of obstacles so that caretaker does not lose
balance because of toys lying around while carrying the child.
- If a young child persists and cries to take the baby into his or
her lap, then make him sit in the middle of the bed and make him or
her sit cross-legged. Then, place the baby safely into the child's
lap. Do not leave them alone even for a second and be constant there
to supervise them.
- Babies normally start rolling over at the age of 4 or 5 months
and may roll over the furniture at this age. They may roll for the
first time suddenly and fall down.
- When the baby is on a high piece of furniture such as the
changing table, examining table in a doctor's office, sofa or bed,
do not turn your back or even your neck even for an instant. If you
must move, there must be pillows or barriers around the baby to
prevent her from falling down.
- Make sure that the crib sides are raised and firmly secured.
- Install child gates at the top and bottom of stairways.
- Never place any furniture near windows.
- Install operable window guards on all windows.
- Do not let the child use an infant walker, unsupervised by an
adult.