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We All Fall Down Accidental falls in the home can lead to serious injury – or worse – for children 
While taking a spill on a staircase isn’t an uncommon occurrence, it can lead to serious health consequences for small children, according to the American Association of Neurological Sciences (AANS), based in Rolling Hills, Ill. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission statistics estimate that 1.5 million Americans are treated for head injuries in emergency rooms each year, and of these, children under 4 are among the most at risk for mild concussions and severe or even fatal traumatic brain injuries, according to the AANS. “As resilient as the young brain can be and often is, we don’t want to count on that,” says Gail Rosseau, MD, an AANS spokesperson. Despite great advances in brain and spine research, Rosseau says the best way to keep children safe from injury is prevention. And since the AANS reported that common baby-related products like strollers and high chairs caused over 31,000 head injuries in 2008, the easiest place to start is the home. Consider, for example, a staircase: While most families with small children place safety gates at the top, many neglect to bar off the bottom, Rosseau says. When children crawl up and are met with a barrier, they must come down, which can lead to serious injury. Other recommended ways to keep kids safe from harm in the home include keeping toys and other objects off of floors, securing all electrical cords, placing cribs and other furniture away from windows and installing window guards and bed rails. Additionally, never walk away from a baby on a changing table, bed or other elevated surface, and always properly secure children into high chairs, swings and strollers. Afterward, Rosseau advises taking one last look at your home to analyze potential dangers. Then, ask yourself how you can make it safer. After all, “We all, at every level of every society, want to protect our children,” she says. “They’re our future.” |
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