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Updated: Dec 3, 2025
Design and Analysis for Fall Detection System Simplification
Published on: April 6, 2020
Observational study of falls in children from windows and balconies: What has changed?
Adelene Y Houlton1, Patricia Manglick2, Soundappan S V Soundappan1,2,3
1Douglas Cohen Department of Paediatric Surgery, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Insights
Children falling from windows and balconies in Australia continue to cause injuries and fatalities. This study highlights the ongoing risks associated with these types of falls in young children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Trauma
- Injury Prevention
- Public Health
Background:
- Falls from windows and balconies are a significant cause of injury in children.
- Understanding injury patterns is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe injury patterns resulting from window and balcony falls in children.
- To identify demographic and injury characteristics of pediatric falls from buildings.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of a trauma database.
- Inclusion of children under 15 years who fell from buildings between 1998 and 2019.
- Analysis of injury types, severity, and outcomes.
Main Results:
- 381 falls recorded (218 window, 163 balcony).
- Majority (64%) involved children under 4 years; male to female ratio 2:1.
- 17% had severe injuries (Injury Severity Score ≥12); four deaths occurred.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric falls from buildings remain a public health concern in Australia.
- While many injuries are minor, severe trauma and fatalities are still occurring.
- Continued vigilance and targeted prevention efforts are necessary.
Aim:
To describe patterns of injury from window and balcony falls in children presenting to a tertiary paediatric trauma centre in New South Wales.
Methods:
A retrospective review of cases of children <15 years who had sustained injuries in a fall from a building, identified from the trauma database between 1998 and 2019.
Results:
A total of 381 falls from windows and balconies were recorded over the 22-year study period. There were 218 falls from windows (57%) and 163 from balconies. The majority (64%) were children under 4 years of age. The male to female ratio was 2:1. While many children sustained simple abrasions, contusions and lacerations, 17% sustained injuries with an injury severity scores of ≥12. There were four deaths.
Conclusions:
This study identified that children falling from buildings remains a problem in Australia. Although many injuries were minor, severe injuries and fatalities continue to occur.
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