Most common causes of serious injury in children

Young children are at greater risk for many serious injuries than adults. Children have immature physical coordination and cognitive abilities, and are at greater risk of falls, extremity fractures, head injury, minor trauma, etc. However, parents and people taking care of children can take steps to make sure their child is safe and, they must know what to do in the event of an accident.

The most common causes of childhood injuries are:

Most common causes of serious injury in children

•    Choking, strangulation, and suffocation: Choking, suffocation, and strangulation cause serious unintentional injuries, but they are preventable. Give back blows or do abdominal thrusts when the child is choking or suffocating. Parents and other caregivers should learn pediatric CPR and choking first aid to prevent these injuries.

•    Burn injuries: A child’s sensitive skin burns more easily than adults. Burns can be caused by steam or vapour, hot water or any other heat or electrical sources. To reduce the severity of burn injuries, apply cool running water, use a clean dressing, and call doctor.

•    Drowning: Drowning is the most common cause of accidental deaths among infants and children aged 1 to 4. Always supervise your child while swimming and never leave any item, such as bucket filled with water, which could become the cause of drowning.

•    Falls & Poisoning: For limiting fall-related injuries, always supervise your child while playing or doing outdoor activities. If your child does have a heavy fall, immediately contact doctor. Poisoning is a common occurrence among children. Prevention is important, particularly with medicines or anything that could harm your child, to limit poisoning cases.