Fall from the changing table What to do?

Accidents in the home environment - Life-threatening fall from the changing table

06/10/2014

The fall from the changing table is one of the most frequent accidents in small children in the home environment. In Germany, accidents caused by accidents according to the German Society for Pediatric Surgery (DGKCH) are the total „most common cause of death in infants aged one to four years.“ This would result in around 80 percent of all injuries in the home environment. „The younger the child is in a fall, the more often the head is affected“, DGKCH continues. On the occasion of the Child Safety Day, numerous professional associations and working groups inform each year about the most common risks for adolescents.

About 60,000 infants had to be hospitalized in 2010 because of an accidental injury, according to the DGKCH. In the first years of life falls with about 60 percent are the most common cause of accidents. The fall from the changing table is the classic example here. For a good reason, the experts advise never to let the child on the changing table out of sight and to secure it with at least one hand. Because for the little ones and a fall from this supposedly low height can end dangerously. Because their head relative to the total body relatively large mass, they tend to fall more on the head. More than two-thirds of annuals suffer a skull injury when they fall, according to DGKCH. Professor med. Guido Fitze, chief physician of pediatric surgery at the University Hospital Dresden, emphasized that it was „It is therefore very important to inform parents of these dangers in good time.“

Infants tend to fall on their heads
For infants and toddlers, the fall from the changing table according DGKCH corresponds approximately to the fall from a height of at least two times in adults. Since the baby's protective reflexes have not yet been adequately developed, they barely catch each other and their skull is still thin, making severe injuries much more likely, said Tobias Schuster, chief physician of the pediatric surgery clinic in Augsburg and spokesman for the DGKCH „World Online“. In conjunction with the increased likelihood of a fall on the head of potentially life-threatening events is expected. In particular, restless, freshly oiled or wet babies advises the expert therefore best to wind on the bed or floor to minimize the risk from the outset.

After a fall on the head, see a doctor
If, despite all precautions, a fall on the head, the experts advise a prompt visit to the doctor, since in the worst case a brain injury is to be expected. A frequent consequence of corresponding falls are concussions, whereby the children according to the „Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Mehr Sicherheit für Kinder e. V.“ possibly „a brief moment (a few seconds to a maximum of 10 minutes) are unconscious, awake and can not remember the accident.“ Afterwards they often appear tired or dizzy and complain of headaches. Also, nausea and vomiting (usually after about 30 minutes to one hour), a changed nature and loss of appetite can be evidence of a concussion. If a child remains unconscious for a long time after a fall, it seems changed or even stops breathing it, the experts advise immediately to alert an ambulance and if necessary to perform a mouth-to-nose respiration and heart massage until it arrives.

Watch children thoroughly for two days
The emergency or pediatrician is after a fall on the head - as long as the children are not unconscious - first examine the pupils, ear canals and reflexes and palpate the skull. For example, a skull fracture is usually one „sloshing bump“ palpable, reports the „Federal Working Group More safety for children“. In most cases, no X-ray examinations or computed tomography are necessary, since in case of doubt with an ultrasound examination, a skull fracture or a cerebral hemorrhage can be detected even without exposure to radiation, explains Tobias Schuster. However, according to the expert, the parents and their children are often very lucky. Many children would suffer from a fall only a skull bruise or a concussion and also could easily heal fractures skull. However, bleeding in the brain is particularly dangerous, as these are often difficult to recognize. According to the expert, after a fall on the head, children should be observed in detail over a period of about two days, even if there is no external appearance and no abnormalities occur at first. (Fp)