Getting hurt is part of being a kid—but we all prefer it when accidents result in minor bumps and bruises worthy of a plaster rather than a trip to the hospital. The good news is that many serious injuries are preventable.
“The way I think about injury prevention in broad terms is there are two parts,” says Megan Marino, a paediatric A&E doctor. “There’s preparation: making sure kids are in a safe space. If we’re talking about a home, this requires doing applicable things to childproof the home. And then in the moment itself, it’s about supervision. This involves making sure there’s an adult available—who is not distracted by their phone, on the computer nor intoxicated—to keep an eye out. If you’re somewhere that’s not been childproofed, keep both eyes on the kids and both hands close.”
Knowing which injuries are most common can help you understand how to best childproof and what to look out for while you’re supervising, adds Jill Creighton, assistant professor of clinical paediatrics and medical director of ambulatory primary care paediatrics.
These are the top causes of injury in kids and the best (as well as the most surprising) ways to prevent them.
1. Motor vehicle accidents
Toting kids to and from play dates, sports practice and dance lessons comes with risks. “Sadly, many motor vehicle accidents happen to be related to a lack of seat belts or using seat belts incorrectly,” says Christina Johns, senior medical advisor.
How to protect babies and toddlers:
Use the correct car seat for the child’s height and weight, and don’t be in a rush to turn the car seat forward-facing as they grow. Rear-facing is safer until you hit the maximum height and weight the seat allows. Experts recommend kids ride rear-facing until at least age two, even if their legs seem a bit scrunched up.
“Three out of four car seats are installed incorrectly,” says Creighton. “Car seats can reduce the risk of death during a car accident by more than 70 percent, but if not installed correctly, this benefit is greatly reduced.”
Read the seat’s manual carefully, and look for local hospital or community programmes where safety pros can check that your seat is installed correctly.
How to protect bigger kids:
Keep kids seated in the back seat, which is always safer than the front. Use a booster seat until the car’s seat belt fits them properly, which is at a height of about 4’9” and age 8 to 12.
“The crash data is really compelling,” Johns says. “Incorrect seat belt positioning can create pretty significant abdominal and spinal injuries.”
Did you know…
“If your car seat has been in an accident, you need a new car seat,” says Marino.
2. Suffocation
It’s every parent and caregiver’s worst nightmare: a child who’s unable to breathe. Sleep, food and toy safety are important in preventing suffocation.
How to protect babies and toddlers:
Infants are most likely to suffocate while they sleep. Keep the baby’s crib free of toys, puffy blankets, pillows and any other objects. Baby bumpers may be cute, but unsafe. All the crib really should have is a fitted sheet on the mattress and perhaps one receiving blanket—or you can dress the baby in a sleep sack instead.
Experts say babies should always sleep on their backs in their own, separate sleep space. It can be hard not to co-sleep, especially if you’re doing overnight care and the baby cries each time you put them down. But many babies die each year from co-sleeping. “These are healthy babies that otherwise would have been fine,” says Marino.
For toddlers, choking is the biggest cause of suffocation. Cut all foods into very small bites, especially those that can be tough to chew. Avoid common choking hazards, such as whole grapes, nuts, raisins and popcorn for kids under the age of four.
How to protect bigger kids:
“Don’t allow kids to run around with food in their mouth of any sort,” says Johns.
Did you know…
Don’t let small children play with balloons, since they tend to put things in their mouths. “They can get stuck in the wind pipe and turn it into a one-way valve that doesn’t allow them to breathe,” says Johns.
Window blind cords can cause strangulation—keep them tied up way out of reach, or better yet, get rid of them completely. Other long cords, such as jump ropes, can also be turned into a hazard.
3. Drowning
Drowning is one of the most common causes of death from injury in kids aged one to four.
How to protect babies and toddlers:
Never leave a child in a pool area unattended, even for a second. “Small children can drown in two inches of water,” says Marino, so practise extra caution if there’s a pond or stream nearby, as well.
How to protect bigger kids:
“It’s not just enough to have an adult beside the pool assigned to watching the kids,” says Johns. “You need to be within arm’s reach of the child. People think wearing water wings are OK, but they’re not. A Coast Guard-approved flotation device is the way to go. Get the child swim lessons really early on, too.”
Any time a child goes missing, always check the bottom of the pool first—even if you think the child is probably in their bedroom or somewhere else safe. If they’re in in the pool, every second is crucial.
Did you know…
“Most people worry about kids drowning in pools, but children more commonly drown in their own bathroom or house, in places such as a tub, toilet or bucket,” says Creighton. “Using toilet seat locks, cabinet locks and safety gates and ensuring toys are big enough not to cause choking could save a child’s life.”
4. Poisoning
Household chemicals, cleaning products and medicines are often the culprits that can lead to poisoning in children.
How to protect babies and toddlers:
Babyproof your home by removing all medications and chemical cleaners and putting them high out of reach. Even kids’ medications, such as Tylenol or gummy vitamins, can be damaging or life-threatening when taken in large doses—and they’re tempting to kids because they taste sweet. Also, dishwashing and laundry pods look a lot like sweets but can cause burns in the oesophagus if a child bites into them.
“Always call 999 if you think the child has ingested something they shouldn’t have,” says Marino. “If you’re not sure what it was, you should go to the A&E department.”
How to protect bigger kids:
Unfortunately, older kids get curious and may take medications knowingly. So, take the childproofing a step further and put meds in a locked box with the key in a separate, secret location, as kids usually figure these things out.
Did you know…
Your purse or handbag should be medication-free, too. Children tend to go into handbags in the hopes of finding some sweets or a mint but actually end up grabbing medication, some of which can be fatal to small bodies.
5. Burns
Several children go to A&E departments every day to be treated for burns.
How to protect babies and toddlers:
Younger kids tend to get burnt by hot liquids or steam, but there are a few precautions you can take to cut down on their risk. First, set the water heater to 48°C or lower.
“That means that even if a child is having a bath and knocks the faucet handle, we can be sure that they will not get second- or third-degree burns,” says Marino.
When cooking, turn pot handles toward the stove, so little hands can’t pull at them, and get childproofing safety items like knob covers for the stove and a locking latch for the oven. Keep an eagle eye on kids in the kitchen in general.
How to protect bigger kids:
Older kids are more likely to be burned from direct contact with fire. Keep any lighters—whether for cigarettes, candles or outdoor grills—well out of the reach of kids.
“A lot of lighters have a safety mechanism but will still allow a spark,” Marino says. “Just a spark can cause a burn in a child.”
Did you know…
Always seek medical care for burns on the face, hands, feet, genitals or near a joint. Also, visit a doctor anytime clothing is stuck to the burn, if the child has a fever, if you don’t know if they’re up to date on their tetanus shots or if they have a medical condition that could inhibit the healing process, says Johns.
6. Falls
Falls are the most common cause of nonfatal injuries for children.
How to protect babies and toddlers:
Babies can fall from changing tables and beds, so clip the baby into the changing pad and handle them as if they can roll over, even if they haven’t done it yet. They tend to roll when we least expect it. Car seat carriers have been known to fall off tables and other surfaces, so never rest them above the ground. Second floor and higher windows should have safety window guards installed, too.
“A baby that has had a fall should absolutely be evaluated for a head injury in A&E,” says Marino.
How to protect bigger kids:
Make sure kids are wearing helmets when riding their bikes, skateboards, scooters and anything else with wheels. Elbow and kneepads are a good idea, too. Choose playgrounds based on the recommended age, often posted on a nearby sign.
“Moving injuries are more likely to occur if children too young are allowed to play on equipment not indicated for their age group,” says Creighton.
Did you know…
“Good sleep—for everyone in the house—can help prevent injuries,” says Creighton. “Children are more likely to fall and have more serious injuries when tired.”
Adults are much less accident-prone when well rested, too.
Other injury causes
Our experts flag a few other important ways you can prevent injuries:
- Small magnets: These aren’t just choking hazards. If swallowed, tiny magnets—which can come as part of older kids’ playsets—can become attracted to each other inside the body and cause perforation of the intestines and other serious injuries. Keep them far away from small kids. If you think the child has swallowed one, head to A&E, says Marino.
- Button batteries: Button batteries are inside some toys, remote controls and other devices. The batteries are caustic and can do serious internal damage and even cause death if swallowed. Keep anything with a button battery out of the reach of small kids, and if a toy breaks, take it away from the child immediately.
- Hot cars: Never leave a child in a car unattended, even if it doesn’t seem hot outside and even if a window is cracked open. The temperature can quickly rise to a fatal level.
Important numbers and locations
Every parent and caregiver should have these phone numbers programmed into their contacts and written down. Also, know where the closest A&E is.
- 999: We all know 999, but it’s important to know when to use it. If the child was submerged in water or is having trouble breathing—if they’re breathing faster than 60 times a minute, turning blue or have stopped breathing—or they’ve fallen and are unconscious, call 999 right away, says Marino. If you’re around other adults, ask one of them for help, either to call 999 or to tend to the hurt child.
- Accident and emergency: Go to A&E if the child is in a car accident where the airbag was deployed, where someone else was injured or where they weren’t in the car seat, says Marino. Also, go to A&E if a child has a seizure that lasts more than five minutes, she says, adding, “If you’re wondering if the child needs to see a doctor that day, the answer is yes. Call a paediatrician, go to urgent care, go to A&E—never worry about overreacting.”
- Child’s paediatrician or nurse practitioner: Find out how the child’s primary doctor handles calls for minor injuries in the case that you need immediate advice. Some will put questions through to the doctor personally. Others have a nurse practitioner line, where you can receive advice, such as whether you should take the child to urgent care or how you can treat the wound yourself.
- Urgent care centre: If the injury is minor but you think the child should be checked by a medical professional or might need a minor procedure, such as stitches, you may be able to bring them to an urgent care facility. Know in advance where the nearest urgent care centre is that specialises in paediatrics. In some cases, you can call ahead to request a timeslot for the child to be seen.
- Parents’ emergency line: If you’re a caregiver, you definitely have the child’s parents’ mobile phone numbers, but what if they’re not available and you need to contact them immediately? This can be tricky if they have a job that means they’re unreachable for long periods, if they’re somewhere loud or if they’re somewhere without a mobile signal. Some mobile phones can be programmed with Emergency Bypass or Bypass Mode, where certain phone numbers can get through in an emergency, even in airplane or “do not disturb” mode. Know the restaurant or theatre they’ll be at, the main landline to their office or their assistant’s contact information. Arranging a plan B with the parents in advance ensures that if it’s a life or death situation, you can get through to them. Hopefully, you’ll never need to use it.
