Falls

Falls in the home account for one-third of emergency department visits. According to National Safe Kids Campaign, eighty percent of fall-related injuries among children 4 and younger occur in the home. Practice the following guidelines for you and your child:

Safety Tips 

• Schedule routine appointments for physical, eye and ear exams. 
• Ask your pediatrician or pharmacist about drug interactions and potential side effects (like dizziness) for prescription or over-the-counter medicine.
  
• Light your home adequately, and use the highest watt bulbs recommended for lamps and fixtures.
  
• Give your child a nightlight or flashlight for getting out of bed at night.
  
• Use rubber mats or non-skid strips in the tub or shower.
  
• Use a shower seat in the tub or shower if needed.
  
• Have your child wear low-heeled, non-skid shoes. Always have shoelaces tied properly.
  Don’t use throw rugs.
  
• Pick up toys.
  
• Keep items used most often in easy-to-reach locations.
  
• Don’t allow your child to carry items that are too heavy. 
• Close supervision of infants and children will prevent most falls.
  

Window Safety:

• Keep windows locked when they are closed.
  
• Never let your child open windows by themselves.
  
• Prevent windows from opening more than four inches by using window guards.
  
• Don’t place furniture near windows. 
• Know that screens don’t prevent falls.
  

Furniture Safety:

• Don’t let your child jump on beds or sofas.
• Don’t place infant carriers on furniture; instead, leave them on the floor.
• Do not allow a child under the age of six to sleep in the top bed of bunk beds.
• Once your child reaches 35 inches tall, they should no longer sleep in a crib.
• Once your infant can sit up, place the crib mattress on the lowest level.

Staircase Safety:

• Use safety gates at the top and bottom of staircases.
• Do NOT use tension gates at the top of stairs; instead use a hardware-mounted gate.
• Keep stairs clear of toys and other objects.
• Keep staircases well lit.
• Teach your child to use the hand railing.
• Never allow your child to slide down railings.