Emergency rooms see over 3 million children under 5 every year for unintentional injuries. That's a staggering number. But when you break it down by category, patterns emerge. And patterns mean prevention.
#1: Falls
Falls are the most common injury for every age group under 5. The sources change as babies grow:
- Prevention:
- Never leave a baby unattended on elevated surfaces
- Use changing pad straps (and keep one hand on baby)
- Install baby gates at stairs
- Use high chair straps every time
- Install window guards on upper floors
- Anchor furniture to prevent climbing-related falls
#2: Burns and Scalds
Hot liquids cause most pediatric burn injuries. A cup of coffee can cause a third-degree burn on a baby's skin. It takes just 3 seconds of exposure to 140°F water.
- Common sources:
- Hot drinks spilling on babies held in laps
- Bath water too hot
- Steam from microwaved food
- Touching stove surfaces, curling irons, or radiators
- Grabbing pot handles from the stove
- Prevention:
- Never hold a hot drink while holding your baby
- Set water heater to 120°F or lower
- Test bath water with elbow or thermometer
- Use back burners and turn pot handles inward
- Keep hot appliances out of reach and unplugged when not in use
#3: Choking
Choking is the fourth leading cause of unintentional death in children under 5. Food is the most common cause, but small objects are a close second.
Highest-risk foods: Hot dogs, grapes, nuts, popcorn, raw carrots, hard candy, chunks of meat, cheese cubes, marshmallows.
Highest-risk objects: Coins, buttons, batteries, small toy parts, pen caps, marbles, balloons.
- Prevention:
- Cut food into appropriate sizes for age
- Supervise all eating
- Learn infant Heimlich maneuver and CPR
- Keep small objects off the floor and low surfaces
- Follow age recommendations on toy packaging
#4: Poisoning
Over 300 children go to the ER every day for poisoning. The most common culprits are medications (both prescription and over-the-counter), cleaning products, and personal care items.
Kids can get into medicine bottles faster than you'd think. "Child-resistant" doesn't mean childproof. Some toddlers can open them in under a minute.
- Prevention:
- Store all medications up high and locked
- Never call medicine "candy"
- Keep the Poison Control number saved: 1-800-222-1222
- Store cleaning products in locked cabinets
- Buy products with child-resistant packaging
#5: Cuts and Bruises
These are the everyday injuries. Sharp furniture corners, falls onto hard surfaces, stepping on toys. Most aren't serious, but some need stitches.
- Prevention:
- Corner guards on furniture
- Keep floors clear of hard toys
- Shoes with good traction for new walkers
- Supervise around sharp objects (scissors, knives, tools)
The Bigger Picture
Most childhood injuries share a common thread: they happen during a momentary lapse in supervision. You turned your back for 10 seconds. You assumed they couldn't reach something. You got distracted by the phone.
You can't watch them every second of every day. That's why environmental safety matters so much. Make the environment forgiving so that when those inevitable moments of inattention happen, the consequences are bumps instead of ER visits.