Falls Prevention: Childhood

Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injury among children

Children and falls

• Growing children have less coordination, slower reaction times, and less accuracy than adults, and are less able to assess the risk of activities to themselves.
• Head injuries are more common for children experiencing falls, and the resulting trauma to the rapidly developing brain can cause life-long disability.

Where childhood falls occur

• Young children (0-4 years) commonly experience falls due to household hazards, like stairs and unsecured windows.
• Children ages 5-9 are more likely to sustain falls on the playground.
• Older children suffer from bike and sports-related falls.

Prevention guidance for parents and guardians

While childhood falls can be serious, guidance provided to parents about how a child's natural curiosity, impulsiveness, developing motor skills, and underdeveloped ability to anticipate outcomes can play an important role in helping them to identify hazards in their child's environment.

• Ensure adult supervision to protect children from injury.
• Talk to your health care provider about injury prevention strategies throughout pregnancy and during regular check-ups with your family pediatrician.
• Block access to hazards such as open windows and stairs.
• Practice window safety by taking the following actions:
  • Install child safety window guards or locks on all windows that are 12 feet or more above the ground. Remember, window screens are not safety devices. They are only designed to keep bugs and insects out, not to keep children in.
  • Keep beds, furniture, and anything a child can climb on away from windows.
  • When opening windows for ventilation, open windows children cannot reach, or open windows from the top, not the bottom.
• Remove clutter so children have clear spaces to learn walking and to play safely.
• Provide properly fitting protective gear, such as helmets, for children playing sports or other recreational activity.

For more information on childhood injury, visit the Safe Kids Worldwide website.