Keeping kids safe from falls

Falls are the leading cause of injury hospitalisation in children. Over 6,500 children presented to Perth Children’s Hospital Emergency Department due to falls last financial year.

Children are learning new skills everyday and therefore it’s common for them to fall over while trying to crawl, walk, run, climb or play. Typically, children will get up with no more than a bruise or a bump. However, some sustain more serious injuries.

For this reason it’s important to teach children how to climb safely and also implement some safety practices around the home. Kidsafe WA has some tips to help prevent fall injuries:

• Never leave babies unattended on raised surfaces
• Ensure sides of cots are up and secured
• Always use harnesses in nursery equipment like high chairs and strollers
• Use gates at the top and bottom of stairs
• Use play equipment suitable for your child’s age and stage of development
• Use protective gear during sports and helmets on bikes

Supervise children and help them learn new skills

Together we can prevent injuries from falls. For more information on preventing childhood injuries, visit kidsafewa.com.au