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Child injuries are preventable, yet more than 9,000 children (from 0-19 years) died from injuries in the US in 2009. Car crashes, suffocation, drowning, poisoning, fires, and falls are some of the most common ways children are hurt or killed. The number of children dying from injury dropped nearly 30% over the last decade. However, injury is still the number 1 cause of death among children.[1]

Children during early childhood are more at risk for certain injuries. Using data from 2000-2006, the CDC determined that:

  • Drowning was the leading cause of injury death between 1 and 4 years of age.
  • Falls were the leading cause of nonfatal injury for all age groups less than 15.
  • For children ages 0 to 9, the next two leading causes were being struck by or against an object and animal bites or insect stings.
  • Rates for fires or burns, and drowning were highest for children 4 years and younger.[2]

Here is a table summarizing some tips from the CDC to protect children from these injuries:[3]

Table 7.4 – Preventing Injuries

Type of Injury

Prevention Tips

Burns
  • Have smoke alarms on every floor and in all rooms people sleep in
  • Involve children in creating and practicing an escape plan
  • Never leave food cooking on the stove unattended; supervise any use of microwave
  • Make sure the water heater is set to 120 degrees or lower[4]

Drowning
  • Make sure caregivers are trained in CPR
  • Fence off pools; gates should be self-closing and self-latching
  • Have children wear life jackets in and around natural bodies of water
  • Supervise children in or near water (including the bathtub)[5]

Falls
  • Make sure playground surfaces are safe, soft, and made of impact absorbing material (such as wood chips or sand) at an appropriate depth and are well maintained
  • Use safety devices (such as window guards)
  • Make sure children are wearing protective gear during sports and recreation (such as bicycle helmets)
  • Supervise children around fall hazards at all times[6]

Poisoning
  • Lock up all medications and toxic products (such as cleaning solutions and detergents) in original packaging out of sight and reach of children
  • Know the number to poison control (1-800-222-1222)
  • Read and follow labels of all medications
  • Safely dispose of unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs and over the counter drugs, vitamins, and supplements[7]

Motor-accident, in vehicle
  • Children should still be safely restrained in a five point harnessed car seat
  • Children should be in back seat
  • Children should not be seated in front of an airbag[8]

Motor-accident, pedestrian
  • Teach children about safety including:
    • Walking on the sidewalk
    • Not assuming vehicles see you or will stop
    • Crossing only in crosswalks
    • Looking both ways before crossing
    • Never playing in the road
    • Not crossing a road without an adult
  • Supervise children near all roadways and model safe behavior[9]
Children playing on a jungle gym at a park.
Figure 7.14 – Children playing on a jungle gym at a park. Image is in the public domain

In this video, Dr. Boise briefly discusses the most common fatal and non-fatal injuries in early childhood and the importance of prevention.

  1. Child Injury by the CDC is in the public domain ↵
  2. CDC Childhood Injury Report by the CDC is in the public domain ↵
  3. Child Growth and Development by Jennifer Paris, Antoinette Ricardo, & Dawn Rymond licensed under CC BY 4.0 ↵
  4. Burn Prevention by the CDC is in the public domain ↵
  5. Drowning Prevention by the CDC is in the public domain ↵
  6. Fall Prevention by the CDC is in the public domain ↵
  7. Poisoning Prevention by the CDC is in the public domain ↵
  8. Road Traffic Safety by the CDC is in the public domain ↵
  9. Safety Tips for Pedestrians by the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center is in the public domain ↵

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Child and Adolescent Developmental Psychology Copyright © by Courtney Boise is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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