Child injuries

WITH falls being the number one cause of childhood injury and accounting for nearly half of all injuries seen at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, the hospital says it has seen a 15% decrease in cases.

In 2019, 2 791 (47%) cases were recorded with about eight children treated daily. Of these, 64% were at home, 17% at playgrounds, 16% at schools, while 60% of head injuries were due to falls. This year, about 2 300 cases have been recorded, with 78% of falls taking place at home, 13% at playgrounds and 6% at schools, while 53% of head injuries were due to falls.

ChildSafe executive director Thilda Nel said head injuries were more common than expected, and were often ignored. She said children suffered later in school and in their work lives.