Children tend to handle injuries fairly well. They run, they fall, they get a few cuts and scrapes, then they get right back up to run again. Most of these injuries are not serious.
However, as limber and energetic as they are, they can suffer some serious injuries if an adult is not careful about their surroundings. If you know about the common injuries and death risks to children, it may help you to look out for your child’s well-being.
How Do Children Get Injured?
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the following are the most common causes of injuries to children:
Falls
Falling is practically ordinary in the world of children. Most cases are not a large cause for alarm; however, falls are the most common cause of nonfatal injuries for children ages 0 to 19.
About 8,000 children are admitted to hospital emergency rooms (ER) every day due to injuries from falls. To help avoid this, try to prevent children from accessing ladders or high levels.
Burns
More than 300 children ages 0 to 19 are treated for burns in the ER every day across America. Younger children are prone to be burned by hot water or steam.
These sources can be easily unnoticed, but young children’s skin is very sensitive. Older children are more likely to be burned from direct contact with fire. Remember to keep all hot surfaces away from a child’s reach.
Poisoning
Poisoning is just as common as burns in children ages 0 to 19. Most often, the culprit poisoning injuries or deaths are everyday household items such as chemicals, cleaners, and medicines.
Keep these items out of reach of children. Also, if they see you taking certain medications, they may think it’s candy and try to take some. Communicate with your child that these substances are not candies or toys and that these medicines can badly hurt them.
A recent poisoning problem has been teenagers “challenging” each other to ingest laundry detergent pods. It’s a good idea to use a different type of laundry detergent until your children are adults, rather than using pods.
Suffocation
Suffocation does not always have to be from an external source. Infants are most likely to suffocate while they sleep. On the other hand, curious toddlers are at risk from suffocating by choking on food or other small objects.
The best ways to avoid these injuries is to keep choking hazards out of reach. Always be aware of anything small around your young children – anything that can fit into their little mouths.
Drowning
If you have a pool, are near a lake or canal, or are planning on having your child be around large bodies of water, be sure to keep a sharp eye on them. Drowning is the most common cause of death from injury in children ages 1 to 4.
Swimming lessons can help kids learn to use their bodies properly and safely in the water. In the meantime, be sure to give them floats and adult supervision 100 percent of the time when they’re around water.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents are the top cause of death from injury in children between the ages of 5 and 19. Every hour, almost 150 children visit hospital emergency rooms across the country due to injuries from car accidents.
Drive safely, and make sure your children are buckled up in the correct car seat for their size before getting on the road. Do not sit very young children in the front seats, because they can get severely injured by the airbag if it deploys in a crash.
What Can I Do if My Child Is Injured?
We know it’s scary when your child has an emergency. That’s why Patient Care Now Urgent Care in Fairless Hills is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Owned and operated by board-certified emergency medicine providers, we pride ourselves in providing a seamless medical experience to our patients.
Call us at (267) 202-6433 for all of your urgent care needs, or use our online check-in form. We look forward to serving you and your family.
