Falls dominate number of injuries at Red Cross trauma unit

FALLS are the number one cause of childhood injury seen at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital (RCWMCH) Trauma Unit, accounting for 41% of all injuries in children 12-years-old and younger.

This is according to the RCWMCH Trauma Unit Surveillance Report for 2021/2022, which was released recently.

Boys are also more likely to fall than girls, as they accounted for 63% of falls.

Paediatric surgeon at RCWMCH, Dr Dirk von Delft, said falls are common in children.

“The trend is consistent and that there is not much behavioural change in the community regarding child supervision. Falls even from the height of 1 metre to 1.5 metres can cause injuries, especially head injuries in children.

“The RCWMCH treated 699 children for head injuries in 2021. Often it is ignored, and children suffer the consequences later in school and later in their work lives,” he said.

A member of the Trauma Society of South Africa exco, Professor Timothy Hardcastle said it is important to remember that most injuries can be prevented across all ages.

“Red Cross is a referral facility for half of the Western Cape and sees lots of children who play in less safe areas, due to a lack of dedicated recreational facilities. Also protective equipment is lacking in homes.

“The Western Cape spectrum may be different to other parts of the country, where in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, pedestrian crashes are dominant due to many informal settlements near highways,” he said.

The greatest risk of fall-related injuries, however, are to children aged 0 to

four years. About 76% of all fall-related injuries take place at home, with the remaining 24% at playgrounds, early childhood development/school environments or public spaces.

Senior lecturer and medical specialist in the division of orthopaedic surgery at Stellenbosch University, Dr Marí Thiart, said children are curious beings who are exploring their world.

“As they develop, the muscles are still developing, as is their coordination. The way they walk is also a little wobbly. Plus, many young children do not have any fear due to lack of experience.

“They cannot judge distance and the risk involved in doing things like climbing a tree, or jumping from a

playground equipment piece. Thus, falls in childhood are very common,” she said.

Executive director of ChildSafe South Africa, Zaitoon Rabaney, said that from the moment a child starts to crawl, the world is a magical place filled with new adventures and discoveries.

“From a child’s perspective, everything is a potential mountain to climb (that giant bookshelf), obstacle to overcome (those pesky stairs) or mysterious place to investigate (anywhere beyond the safety gate).

“Little bumps will happen, but ChildSafe is here to help so these brave expeditions do not result in something more serious,” she said.

ABOUT 76% of all fall-related injuries take place at home, with the remaining 24% at playgrounds, early childhood development/school environments or public spaces. | SUPPLIED