Tips to Prevent Falls and Trips

As adults we often think tripping, slipping and falls is just another part of growing up and that our kids will bounce back from a fall with nothing more than a little bruise.

However, falls – from slips, trips and other causes – are the leading cause of injury-related hospital admission for children of all ages.  More than 50% of kids who end up in hospital with an injury will be there because of a fall – on average that’s around 400 kids every month! These children have often have broken bones and some will need long-term treatment to get on their feet again.

Falls around the home are a major cause of injury.  For young children injuries happen when they fall from furniture such as beds, bunks and chairs.  A number of children are also dropped by someone carrying them – and many slip and trip on objects around the home.  Falling off decks, downs steps and off balconies is also a common cause of injury.

So how we do we prevent these injuries occurring?

Being aware of our children’s different development stages is important.  Children grow quickly and while one day they are not interested in exploring the outside deck, the next they are off and crawling!

 A few simple tips to prevent falls around the home include:

• Change baby’s nappy on the floor.  Children learn to roll quickly and a fall off a change table can be dangerous for a young baby.

• Use safety devices like stair gates.  When children begin to crawl and walk these can be used to stop them wandering off and falling down stairs or steps.  They can be purchased at most nursery furniture retailers and large department stores.

• Use harnesses on nursery equipment.  Harnesses on child restraints, high chairs and prams are there to ensure children are safety secured.  While babies may not always like these – it’s important to use them to help prevent injury.

• Use the buckles in shopping trolleys.  Again, these have been installed to stop children falling from trolleys and should be used for all children.  Around two children a month, on average, are admitted to Starship Children’s Health after falling from trolleys – some of them with serious head injuries.

• Make sure floors are clear when carrying children.  In a busy household this can often be easier said than done – but it’s important to encourage older children to put toys away when they are finished playing, and to ensure there is as little clutter on floors as possible.

Kids Friendly New Zealand Limited                PO Box 93, Matakana 0948 , New Zealand           Copyright 2002-2009