Falls: 10 - 14 years
How big a problem is it?
Slips and falls are a normal part of child and pre-teen development, and as children grow the total amount of non-fatal injury from falls drops at this age group. That's relative to the 5 - 9 age group. That said, falls still caused half of all hospitalisations during the period 2013-2017. Around 20 children from this age group are hospitalised for a falls-related injury.
Who does it affect?
While this age group 10 - 14 is at risk of fall-related injuries, it's on a par with the preschool age groups. But it's still a significant risk area. In examining causes and look at any association with particular equipment or place, we find that falls at outdoor sporting grounds were most common in this 10 - 14 age group. Activities include falls from playground equipment and skating/skiing activities.
Māori children and young people are disproportionately more likely to be hospitalisations with fall injuries.
Top Tips
| The severity of a fall injury depends on the height a child falls, if they hit anything on the way and what they land on. So managing height risk, household objects and the quality of any fall cushioning are all key. |
At home
Use approved safety gates at the tops and bottoms of stairs and attach them to the wall if possible.
Properly install window guards to prevent window falls. Windows above the first floor should have an emergency release device in case of fire.
Bunk beds encourage climbing so they should only be used by children over nine years of age. Make sure there are guardrails on the top bunk and that the opening for entering and exiting is no more than 40cm wide.
Take a look around your house and move any objects and furniture away from windows that could be used by children to stand or climb on.
Wet floors are very slippery so can be a slipping hazard for children. Wipe up spills immediately and encourage children to sit when eating and drinking to reduce spills.
At play
Talk to your children about how to be safe on a trampoline.
We suggest the rule is ‘one at a time’ and that’s because there is a lot of evidence associating multiple users with accidents.
Children under six years can run into trouble on a trampoline so it’s best to find another activity to keep them entertained.
Find playgrounds with shock-absorbing surfaces. Playgrounds with loose-fill materials such as wood chips, mulch, rubber or sand should have a depth of at least 30cm.
Steer your children to age-appropriate activities to help prevent falls from play equipment.
High porches, decks, stairs and balconies all have a high fall risk, so try and find alternative play areas for your children. If that’s not possible, make sure you keep an eye on them at all times.
Encourage your preteen or teen to wear a helmet when riding a bike, scooter or a skateboard to protect their head from a serious injury if they fall.
First Aid
If your child has had a fall they may have bone fracture or a serious head injury. If they are in pain or for any of the following reasons, call 111 immediately. Do this if your child:
is, or has been, unconscious (can’t be woken up)
is being sick or seems sleepy
has trouble breathing
bleeding and you can’t stop the bleeding
is bleeding from an ear.
There are also some things you can do straight away:
Fractures First Aid
Keep the injured arm or leg still. Someone who knows how to might use a splint to keep it still. You can support the injured arm or leg with a pillow or sling. Raise the arm or leg higher than the heart to help reduce swelling. Your child will need pain relief. If your child does not need an ambulance take them to the nearest hospital Emergency Department.
Brain injury/loss of consciousness First Aid
Follow Drs ABCD for start CPR
D Dangers? Check for any dangers to yourself such as electricity or traffic.
R Responsive? Check responsiveness by calling loudly and shaking the child's arm.
S Send for help. Dial 111 and confirm an ambulance is on its way. Use the appropriate emergency number in other countries.
A Airway. Open the airway by moving the head into a neutral position and lifting the chin. Do not tilt the head back too far.
B Breathing. Look and feel for movement of the lower chest and stomach area. Listen and feel for air coming from the nose or mouth.
C CPR. If the child is not breathing, start CPR - 30 compressions to 2 breaths. Put the child on a firm surface. Place 2 fingers of one hand (for a baby) or the heel of one hand (for a child) in the centre of the chest just below the nipples. Push down hard and fast 30 times in about 15 seconds (push down one-third of chest depth).
Once you have completed 30 compressions (pushes) on the chest, breathe into the baby's mouth 2 times. Seal your lips around the baby's mouth and nose. For a child over 1, you may need to breathe into their mouth and pinch their nose closed. Gently puff into the child until you see their chest rise.
Continue with the cycle of 30 chest compressions and 2 breaths until the ambulance arrives.
D Defibrillator. Attach defibrillator as soon as it is available and follow prompts.
Link to Safekids' resources
Falls Injury Prevention Resources
Links to other organisations' resources
Ministry of Education information on Playgrounds and Equipment