Parenting Home
Health & Parenting Guide
Related to Parenting
ADHD in Children
Baby's First Year
Child BMI Calculator
Kids and Sleep
Ever Heard of Central Precocious Puberty?
Child Injured on Stairs Every 6 Minutes
Children Being Carried Down the Stairs Are 3 Times More Likely to Be Hospitalized
By Jennifer Warner
From the WebMD Archives
March 12, 2012 -- Every six minutes a young child in the U.S. is treated in the emergency room for a stair-related injury, according to a new study.
Overall, researchers say an average of more than 93,000 children under the age of 5 were treated for stair-related injuries in an emergency room each year between 1999 and 2008. But the number of injuries decreased by about 12% during that time.
Researchers found that the number of young children who were injured while being carried on the stairs accounts for about a quarter of injuries among children under age 1. These children are also more than three times more likely to be hospitalized as a result of their injuries than children who were injured in other ways.
"Stair-related injuries are on the decline but still represent an important source of injury to young children," write researcher Ashley Zielinsky of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, and colleagues in Pediatrics. "Increased prevention efforts are needed, including parental education and improved stairway design."
Stair Safety Still an Issue
In the study, researchers analyzed information from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System of the Consumer Product Safety Commission from 1999 to 2008.
The results showed an estimated 931,886 children under the age of 5 were treated for stair-related injuries in U.S. emergency rooms during the study period.
Most of the injuries occurred as a result of the child falling down the stairs on his or her own. But 25% of children under age 1 were injured while they were carried on the stairs, and 16% fell in a baby walker.
The majority of injuries were bruises and other soft tissue injuries, which accounted for 35% of injuries. About three-fourths of the children had injuries to the head and neck area, and nearly 3% were hospitalized as the result of their injuries.
In addition, an estimated10,000-plus injuries were reported when children fell down the stairs in a stroller or carriage. In many cases, the child was strapped in, but it was not enough to prevent injuries.
Stair Gates Not Enough
Researchers say stair gates are an important way to prevent children from using the stairs unsupervised, but parents should not rely on them exclusively.
Although stair gates can greatly reduce the likelihood of falling down the stairs, researchers say parents should be aware that stair gates are not a substitute for proper adult supervision.
In many cases, the study showed the gates were often removed by another member of the household, or the young child was able to knock down or climb over the gate.
Other ways to improve child stair safety include:
Keep stairs well-maintained and free of objects.
Parents and caregivers should minimize the use of stairs while carrying a child.
Do not carry other items in addition to a child while using stairs. The free hand should be placed on the handrail.
Avoid using stairs when transporting a child in a stroller or baby carriage. Use an elevator or carry the child instead.
Install built-in, wall-mounted stair gates that are always in place.
WebMD Health News Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD on March 09, 2012
Zielinski, A. Pediatrics, April 2012.
News release, American Academy of Pediatrics.
How to Discipline Kids Without Spanking
7 Signs You Might Be a Helicopter Parent
What to Do About Bedwetting
Crazy Things Teens Use to Get High
Gross Things Kids Do
When Your Child Has Migraines
Is your child at a healthy weight?
What happens in your child's second year.
Sick Kids?
15 tips to help stop the spread of germs.
Feeding Picky Eaters
Tips for dealing with mealtime mayhem
Is Your Child Drinking Too Much Sugar?
The Dirtiest Places Kids Will Find
10 Tips for Parenting Preteens
How to Teach Your Kids Manners
Is Your Child Too Young for a Cell Phone?
Teasing vs Bullying: How to Tell the Difference
Is Your Teen a Vaper?
Video: Installing a Toddler's Car Set
What to Know About Potty Training
What Is 'Transitioning'?
Should You Care About Child Milestones?
Video: Fast Facts About Twins
15 Alternatives to Spanking