Falls are the most common single cause of injury in every age group. Children love to climb and run and a few falls are part of the growing process and precautions can be taken to prevent serious injury. Important factors which influence the seriousness of a fall:

1. The height the child can fall from.
The lower the height the lower the danger. Children under five should not have access to heights over 1.5 metres. Older children should not have access to heights over 2 metres.

2. What the Child falls onto.
Hard surfaces such as concrete, ceramic tiles, even compacted sand are more hazardous to fall onto than softer surfaces . Tan-bark or pine mulch under play equipment are recommended to provide a softer landing. An approximate depth of 300mm is required.

3. What the child may hit as they fall.
Place sharp edged furniture like coffee tables and bedside tables where a child is unlikely to fall.

Carefully placed playground equipment will discourage children from walking in front of a swing or falling from one piece and hitting another.

Glass is particularly dangerous to fall into, therefore consider using safety glass or shatter-resistant film. Make glass doors visible with stickers. Place furniture so that children cannot run into windows or fall from furniture into glass.


Babies
Place babies where they cannot fall. Babies wriggle from birth. It is not long before they learn to roll over and may unexpectedly fall from a bed or change table. Consider using the floor when changing a baby. An active baby may move a bouncinette causing it to fall from a table or bench top. Do not place bouncinettes above floor level. When they have learnt to roll they can easily cover quite a distance.


Toddlers
A standing and toddling baby has frequent minor falls. To minimise these, look at the environment from their level. Create a clear area, removing things likely to cause them to rip eg. rugs, electrical cords. Pad the sharp corners of benches or tables which they could hit at face level, or remove tables until children are older. A babywalker gives a young, not-yet-walking child the mobility to place them in danger. Falls down steps and stairs are more likely in babywalkers. Do not use them.

When a child is tired late in the day or unwell he/she is less able to manage and is more likely to fall. Use barriers for stairs and harness in high chairs and strollers.


Children
Once a child has learned to walk they quickly manage to climb. They usually enjoy this activity. The preschool child has the physical ability to reach heights but has no fear or understanding of the consequences of a fall. Lock windows in multistory buildings so that children cannot climb out or ensure that they have restricted opening of less than 100mm. Scissors, knives or glasses are some of the sharp objects which may cause serious injury if a child falls. Discourage children from walking or running with these objects, especially in their mouths. Most bunk beds are not suitable for children under 9 years of age. Some designs are safer than others. Ask the Safety Centre for advice about bunk beds.


Older Children
The older child has an understanding of the dangers but may still take risks. Playgrounds are for the purpose of fun. They can be designed for adventure and safety. They can be made safer by the choice of equipment of appropriate height, the provision of safety rails, the size of bars and the layout of the equipment. What the child hits creates the impact. Therefore good undersurfacing to play equipment is of utmost importance. Good design, placement and maintenance of play equipment will reduce the likelihood of severe injury, whether it is at home, at school or in a public playground. Call the Playgrounds and Recreation Association of Victoria on (03) 9388 1066 for advice.


Slippery Areas
When wet, some surfaces become extremely slippery for all age groups. A kitchen floor with water on it becomes a crash scene for a toddler. Therefore wiping up spills quickly is important. Having the child seated when drinking helps to reduce the spills. The other area with a hard surface which is often wet is the bathroom. Using rubber mats will help to reduce slipping. There are anti-slip flooring products commercially available to assist with indoor and outdoor areas which are slippery. Products such as safety walk tape, rubberised paint, slip-resistant concrete spray and lock matting are examples of products available.