Every 6 minutes a child younger than 5 is treated in an ER for stair-related injuries. Some of these falls are from a child falling down the stairs or because a caretaker fell down the stairs while holding a child. This alarming number sends everyone a wake up call. Many of these injuries are preventable by taking a few precautions.
- Be sure you have a mounted gate at the top of the stairs and at least a pressure-mounted gate at the bottom of the stairs.
- Make sure you have a securely mounted banister rail that is thin enough to grasp in case you need to grab onto it while holding your child.
- Don’t multitask when going down the stairs. Don’t try to carry more than one child or your child and groceries, etc.
- Flip flops and heels increase your chance of falling while going down stairs and carrying your child. Take off your shoes or wear other shoes when carrying your child down stairs.
- Keep your stairs clear of toys, bags, laundry and other obstacles.
These easy-to-follow tips only take a few minutes to do and can possibly save you and your child from life-threatening falls.