What to do when your child falls from a high structure
“It happens quite often that young children fall off something."
A bed, a couch or even a table can be a dangerous place for a baby or small child.
It’s essential to be vigilant and consider safety aspects at all times.
The risk of children or babies falling off something is quite high, as they do not have the fully developed coordination or balance of an adult or adolescent.
Dayne Olsen, an emergency care practitioner (ECP) at the ER24 Vaal Branch, recently responded to an incident where a baby fell from a height at a home in Sebokeng in the south of Gauteng.
At this specific scene, a one-year-old baby girl sustained serious head injuries after she allegedly fell from the top of the table. Dayne and other paramedics treated her and had to provide her with advanced life support interventions before she was airlifted to hospital.
“It happens quite often that young children fall off things. Even if you as a parent or a supervising adult think you’re just quickly going to reach for this or quickly going to do that, an accident can still happen. Please don’t leave your children unattended for even a second. Not in a high chair or even on the bed, as they can roll over and fall off the bed,” said Dayne.
How do you know if the fall seriously injured your child?
According to The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, it depends on the seriousness of the fall and this can be influenced by important factors:
The height the child fell from
The lower the height, the lower the danger
What the child falls onto
What the child may hit as he/ she falls
Hard surfaces such as concrete, ceramic tiles, and even compacted sand are more hazardous to fall onto than softer surfaces. Impact absorbing or soft fall materials under play equipment are recommended to provide a softer landing.
Place sharp-edged furniture such as coffee tables to the side of the room, where a child is unlikely to fall onto them.
General safety tips:
Take a first-aid course. Parents, caregivers and domestic workers should be proficient in CPR and basic first aid.
Keep a comprehensive first-aid kit at home.
If your child has experienced a fall, examine him/ her for injuries and take him/ her to a clinic or your general practitioner if you have any concerns or notice any change in his/ her behaviour.
Pin a detailed list of emergency numbers on the fridge and next to the phone. Save ER24’s emergency number, 084 124, on your phone. Make sure it is visible in your home so that it can be quickly accessed and remembered.
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