Falls - Injury Statistics and Incidence Rates
The following statistics were are the latest available from the National SAFE KIDS Campaign:
Injury and death rates:
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More than 2.3 million children ages 14 and under are treated annually at hospital emergency rooms for fall-related injuries.
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Recent reports show falls killed about 80 children ages 14 and under in one year.
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More than half of fall-related injuries among children occur among ages five and under.
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About 18 children ages 10 and under die annually from falls from windows. Another 4,700 children ages 14 and under will require treatment each year for window fall-related injuries.
Where and when:
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Infants are more likely to fall from furniture, baby walkers, and stairs.
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Toddlers tend to fall from windows.
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Older children fall more often from playground equipment.
Who:
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Children ages 10 and under sustain fall-related injuries twice as often as other children.
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Boys are twice as likely to die from fall-related injuries than girls.
Playgrounds:
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Each year, nearly 207,000 children, ages 14 and under, require emergency room treatment due to playground falls .
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The most severe playground-related injuries are due to falls (90 percent). One-third of playground-related fatalities are due to falls.
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Children ages four and under tend to suffer injuries to the face and head from playground-related injuries, while older children are more likely to injure arms or hands.