Falls Safety

Child helping another child up from a fall

Did You Know...

  • Unintentional falls are the leading cause of non-fatal injuries for children in the US.
  • Most of these injuries result from activities such as climbing on furniture, playing near an unsecured window, falling downstairs or playing on playgrounds.
  • Teenagers aged 15-19 years were responsible for 48% of fatal falls among children.
  • Three times more boys than girls suffered fatal falls.
  • Fatal falls increase during summer months and on weekends.

Top Safety Tips

  • Properly install window guards to prevent unintentional window falls.
  • Keep babies and young kids strapped in when using high chairs, infant carriers, swings or strollers.
  • Use approved safety gates at the tops and bottoms of stairs and attach them to the wall.
  • Secure TVs and furniture to the wall using mounts, brackets, braces, anchors or wall straps to prevent tip-overs.
  • Take your kids to playgrounds with shock-absorbing surfaces such as rubber.

Falls Safety Resources

This page was last modified on 11/29/2021

https://www.ncosfm.gov/community-risk-reduction/safe-kids/falls-safety