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Fall Prevention & Safety

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Preventing Falls for Children

Falls are the leading cause of non-fatal, unintentional injuries and emergency department visits for children younger than 15. Each year in the United States, there are more than 120 fall-related deaths and 2.5 million emergency department visits among this age group. Children less than 5 years old account for more than 50% of both categories (National Safe Kids).

The majority of fall-related injuries in children ages 0 to 5 years occur at home, most often due to a lack of appropriate supervision.  This includes leaving an infant on a changing table or other surface for "just a minute," or allowing a toddler to play in a room with non-secured windows or to be on a balcony with ineffective railing protection.  Many infants injured in falls are in the same room as their caregiver.

  • Most infant falls are from furniture, stairs, or walkers (older walkers can pose multiple risks of injury).
  • Most toddler falls are from windows and balconies.
  • Most falls involving older children are from bikes, skateboards, scooters, and playground equipment.
  • Twice as many fall-related injuries in children aged 5 to 14 years occur at home versus school.
In the U.S., 4,000 children fall from windows every year with 70% falling from second or third story windows. More than 50 children per year in Oregon fall from windows. Falls are the leading cause of non-fatal, unintentional injuries and emergency department visits for children younger than 15. For more information visit The Campaign to Stop Window Falls.

SafeKids USA: Keeping Children with Special Needs Safe in the Home
Home Safety for Children
with Special Needs
American Adacemy of Pediatrics: The Injury Prevention Program Injury-Free Coalition for Kids
Oregon Safe Kids Coalition
Oregon Safe Kids Coalition
Injury prevention resources from OHSU
Oregon's Window Falls Campaign

More facts about falls:

  • Pediatric falls are associated with the combination of curiosity and lack of motor-skill development (the former generally outpacing the latter), thus children ages 10 and under are at greatest risk for death or serious injury from falls.1
  • Seventy percent (70%) of pediatric falls, both in Oregon and the United States, occur between noon and early evening during warm weather.1
  • Most falls from windows involve male children younger than 5 years old, and commonly occur in low-income, high-occupancy, multi-family housing.
  • Children living in apartment buildings are more likely to fall from windows than those living in single-family dwellings.
  • Apartment/condominium complexes are more likely to have balconies and walkways than houses and duplexes.
  • Even railing bars spaced five inches apart can allow small children to slip through.
Child Fall Prevention Tips

Proper supervision is essential:

  • NEVER leave children unattended on changing tables, beds, sofas, etc.
  • Strap children into highchairs, swings, strollers, etc.
  • Don’t let children play unattended on balconies, porches, and/or fire escapes.
  • Don’t let children play near windows or patio doors.

Don't create your own hazards:

  • Avoid use of baby walkers on wheels; all baby walkers should meet current ASTM standards.
  • Use safety gates at tops and bottoms of stairs if infants or toddlers are in the home; gates should meet ASTM standards.
  • Move furniture away from windows and draperies.
  • Window screens are intended to Keep Bugs Out not Kids In: install window guards where needed. Use window guards that meet current ASTM standards for emergency exiting.
  • Use slip-resistant mats or stickers in bathtubs

References

1National SafeKids Campaign

 
Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue
Command & Business Operations Center
11945 SW 70th Avenue
Tigard Oregon 97223-9196
Tel:  (503) 649-8577 | Fax: (503) 642-4814