Falls are among the most common causes of injury in children and can occur either at the same level (such as slipping or tripping) or from a height, including beds, stairs, windows, balconies, and playground equipment. Falls from height are more likely to result in serious injuries, particularly to the head and spine (Gill & Kelly, 2025). Most childhood falls occur in the home and are preventable through appropriate supervision and environmental safety measures (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2025).
Falls Prevention
Overview
High-Risk Groups
Certain age groups are more vulnerable to falls due to developmental factors:
- Infants, who are at risk of falling from beds or changing tables due to rolling movements (Gill & Kelly, 2025).
- Toddlers, who are naturally curious and prone to climbing behaviors (Clukies et al., 2025).
- School-age children, who may engage in risk-taking activities during play (Children’s Safety Network, 2023).
Key Safety Practices
Children should be encouraged to avoid climbing on furniture, use handrails when using stairs, avoid playing near windows or balconies, and follow playground safety rules. Parents and caregivers should never leave infants or young children unattended on raised surfaces, install window guards and stair safety gates, keep furniture away from windows, supervise playground activities, and maintain dry, clutter-free floors to prevent slipping (CDC, 2025; Clukies et al., 2025).
Warning Signs and Action
After a fall, warning signs such as loss of consciousness, vomiting, severe headache, drowsiness, confusion, bleeding, visible deformity, or difficulty moving may indicate serious injury. Children should not be moved unnecessarily if a serious injury is suspected, and immediate medical attention is required following a fall from height, head injury, loss of consciousness, or abnormal behavior (Gill & Kelly, 2025).
References
1. Children’s Safety Network. (2023). Falls prevention.
https://www.childrenssafetynetwork.org/child-safety-topics/falls
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Safety, health, and injury prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/early-care/safety
3. Clukies, L. D., Chaudhary, S., & Jeffries, K. (2025). Pediatric considerations for home safety.
Pediatric Clinics of North America, 72(6), 1079–1096.
4. Gill, A. C., & Kelly, N. R. (2025). Falls and fall-related injuries in children: Prevention. UpToDate.
