Its about that time when the kids are going to be spending more time at home, outdoors, and at their friends’ homes. Those who observe festivities around this time of year may also be likely to unwrap gifts from family and friends.
But, the longest school holidays of the year are also the season in which emergency department (ED) visits from children increase substantially.
Its more important than ever to be on the lookout to keep this summer drama-free and safe.
Most safety precautions take a few minutes to check, require basic protective gear or simply require supervision to avoid.
Wear a helmet.
This applies to kids and adults alike. Dr. Maina often provides care to patients, some of whom share the photos of how their accidents happened. These images sometimes, shockingly, include crushed and destroyed helmets.
Helmets are a tried and tested intervention that limit the severity and number of injuries that doctors see and treat as a result of accidents.
However, it is important to also remember that some sports need to be introduced with care in younger children. This is because toddlers are ‘top-heavy’ with big (cute) heads that throw off their balance and increase the risk of head injuries with certain physical activities.
A helmet is also a good idea when participating in activities like ice skating and horse riding, to avoid serious injury.
A helmet is also especially important when adjusting to the use of new toys – be they bikes, rollerskates/blades, skateboards, hoverboards, or other wheeled equipment and accessories.
The helmet should be sized and adjusted to fit correctly, as kids grow and/or change hairstyles.
Helmets with an adjustable wheel ratchet at the back work best to adapt to these size changes while avoiding the costly expense of changing helmets frequently as your child grows.
Parents should be sure to read the instructions that come with the helmet – particularly information about fitting the helmet correctly. Parents should also regularly check whether the helmet is intact and can still provide protection after a fall or accident.
More safety gear: wrist guards, elbow pads, knee pads, shin guards and other sport-specific protective wear are worth their weight in gold.
They will prevent scratches and bumps, and protect against breaks, avoiding unnecessary tears or visits to the ED.
If family members are looking for gift ideas, it may be helpful for them to consider gifting relevant safety gear when new toys/equipment are introduced to children.
Read the safety information and labels on toys.
Is the toy likely to pose a hazard to anyone in the house (pets included)? Check if there is an age limit for use of the toy.
Is the toy likely to pose a hazard to anyone in the house (pets included)? Check if there is an age limit for use of the toy.
The ‘toilet roll test’ is a way of checking whether an item is safe around toddlers. If the toy/item can drop through the middle of a toilet paper tube, then it’s probably a hazard to your little one.
This includes ordinary items like small toys, button batteries (the flat batteries used in remotes), coins, marbles and so on.
Swimming Pools.
Although pools are not ‘toys’ strictly speaking, swimming pools are a cause of several serious injuries and deserve a mention
Activities such as diving may result in spine fractures – causing paralysis or worse, because most residential pools aren’t built deep enough to be safe to dive in.
Slips and falls around pools are not uncommon, resulting in sprains, strains and fractures to ankles, legs and hips. Injuries to the upper limb also occur when attempting to stop a fall on an outstretched hand (FOOSH).
Other fatal pool injuries may also occur, irrespective of the use of flotation devices. These inflatable toys give both parents and children a false sense of security, but it is important to never let your child out of your watch at all times, while near water.
More than half of drownings are reported to happen at home, while a third happen at the home of a friend or family member.
Pools don’t need to be in regular use to pose a risk. Neglected backyard pools and ponds that have accumulated rain should be a concern, too. Jacuzzis, indoor baths, garden ponds, buckets – anything that can hold a volume of water around the home – is a risk.
A fence sometimes provides only a brief deterrent from danger, with some toddlers capable of vaulting the pool fence or unlatching the gate leading to the pool.
Drowning is silent. There is little to no warning that a drowning is happening. Children decompensate quickly, with cardiac arrest following rapidly after respiratory arrest.
Adults and guardians should learn CPR, but more importantly, should avoid drownings altogether. Adults must remain alert and supervise children around bodies of water.
It is important to note that bodies of water in or around the home remain a constant risk for injuries and drownings all year round. The cooler seasons are not a deterrent to curious little ones.
Again, supervision is key and prevention of drownings and near drownings should be the goal.
Trampolines and jumping castles.
Jumping on a trampoline/inflatable is an enjoyable and social activity. Dr. Maina has attended to and treated a fair share of severe fractures and other injuries sustained by children (and adults) bouncing on these surfaces.
Although long bones and joints in the lower limb are often injured, trauma to the upper limb, spine and head can also occur.
These injuries may be severe, due to the unsteady surface underfoot. For example, if two children jump up, and one is traveling down, the trampoline’s surface will be rigid and hard to the child traveling downward, increasing the risk of injury.
Additionally, if multiple children are playing on one trampoline, they may collide into or fall on each other while landing. Padded poles and nets do little to eliminate these risks.
Often, when children present to the ED for treatment of trampoline/inflatable injuries, the injuries are severe and such treatment could involve invasive surgical procedures. These interventions are often followed by prolonged periods of immobilization and rehabilitation.
Appropriate installation, supervision and avoidance of crowding is recommended if children are intended to use these items for play.
Playground safety
Falls from jungle gyms are a major cause of injuries referred to Dr. Maina.
Toddlers and younger children may have difficulty grasping the climbing bars adequately.
They also may fatigue easily – lacking the stamina to play as long or climb as far as their older friends/siblings. This may result in an unexpected fall from a particularly high point in the jungle gym, with severe injuries resulting.
Adults should ensure that younger children are helped on, over and off jungle gyms – especially the higher they climb.
Parents should try to find playgrounds in which the ground underfoot is well-padded and soft. This could include a thick landing surface covered with wood shavings, rubber mulch (shredded tyres) or other layered, soft options. Grass underfoot is not considered sufficient protection from falls.
Dr Anne Maina
Specialist Orthopaedic surgeon
MBBCh (Wits), FC Orth (SA), MMed Ortho (Wits) CIME
References:
- Lisa Lombardi. Updated 3rd March 2016. 8 Things ER Doctors Refuse to Have in Their Homes. Health.com. Accessed 24th November 2021. .https://www.health.com/mind-body/8-things-er-doctors-refuse-to-have-in-their-homes
- Carrie Arnold. Published 17 April 2020. How to avoid the Biggest Holiday hazards for Kids. The New York Times. Accessed 24th November 2021 . https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/17/parenting/kids-safety-fall-fire.html
- Deborah Baer. 5th October 2005. What E.R. Doctors wish you knew. Health.com. Accessed 24th November 2021. https://www.parents.com/health/doctors/what-er-doctors-wish-you-knew/
