NOT ALL CHILDREN BOUNCE!!HOW SAFE IS HOME?

Dr Kathryn Edward

Paediatric Rehabilitation Fellow

The Children’s Hospital at Westmead

PAEDIATRIC TRAUMA

• Leading cause of death and disability in children aged 1 - 14 years of age.

• Falls are a leading mechanism of injury.

• Cost to the health care system– $130 million annually– $28 million is related to hospital inpatient care.

THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM

• New York Study - 1972– ‘Children Can’t Fly’– Mandatory window guards led to a marked decrease in the

incidence of children falling from windows.

• Boston– ‘Kids Can’t Fly’– Voluntary installation of window guards again led to a decrease in

falls (not as much as with the New York campaign)

• Chicago - 2005– Most falls were from modest heights

• 2nd/3rd floor windows

SYDNEY CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

• Identified children who had been admitted as a result of a fall from a window.

• Identify risk factors in order to look at prevention strategies.

RISK FACTORS IDENTIFIED

• Young age – particularly under the age of 5 years

• Warmer months – windows are open in summer

• Open windows

• Flyscreens – majority fell through a flyscreen

• Inappropriate furniture placement

FURNITURE PLACEMENT

• Children love to engage in exploratory play and often fail to identify potential hazards.

• Provides a platform for a child to climb onto or launch from.

• History of children bouncing on the bed or a sofa by the window.

CONCLUSIONS

• FALLS FROM WINDOWS ARE PREVENTABLE!!!!!!!!!!!

• Flyscreens are not physical barriers.

• Parents need to think about window safety, where furniture is placed and consider the use of a window lock.

• Building codes need to be reviewed.