Children's falls - how to prevent them

Falls are the most common cause of children's injuries. In order to prevent them, the most important thing is to identify the possibilities for their occurrence in time and then secure the environment in which the child spends time.

 Make your home safe  

  • Remove or secure pieces of furniture that can be easily knocked down or overturned.
  • Remove slippery floor mats and rugs.
  • At the bottom and top of the stairs, install a gate with a latch that a young child cannot open.
  • Install handrails or handles on the stairs for the child to hold on to.
  • The staircase should be unobstructed.
  • Install security stoppers/locks on the windows and terrace/balcony doors to limit their opening, or secure them with bars.
  • Furniture that a child can climb on (beds, chairs, etc.) should never be placed under or next to a window.
  • Keep the balcony door locked - an unsupervised child should not be on the balcony.
  • Remove the ladder out of the reach of children immediately after use.
  • Put non-slip mats on the tiles in the bathroom and in the bath/shower.

Special caution: infants and young children

  • Never leave a child unattended on the changing table!
  • If you use a cradle, make sure that its stand is stable enough.
  • The crib must have adequate depth and a fence. The crib depth should be at least 60 cm (from the upper edge of the mattress to the top of the fence) to prevent the child from falling out.
  • There must be no rungs on the sides of the crib that a small child could climb on.
  • When using a feeding chair and a stroller, make sure that the child is always strapped in.
  • Avoid using a walker!

Enable children to play safely

  • Check whether the equipment on the playground is in working order - whether the swing is well attached, whether there are nails protruding from the seesaw, etc.
  • Remove from the playground everything that a child can stumble on - stones, sticks, etc.
  • Make sure your children use play equipment according to their age and abilities.
  • If possible, choose a playground with a softer surface.
  • During sports and recreational activities, the child should wear appropriate protective equipment (if riding a bicycle, he/she should wear a helmet, and with rollerblades, appropriate arm and leg protection).