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Ten years of experience with falls from a height in children
Insights
Accidental falls from heights are a significant risk for urban children. A New York City program has drastically reduced window falls, saving lives.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Trauma Surgery
Background:
- Falls from height represent a critical cause of accidental death and injury in urban pediatric populations.
- Understanding the epidemiology of these falls is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review medical and social data of children admitted for falls from height over a decade.
- To analyze survival rates, injury severity related to fall height, and the circumstances of the falls (accidental vs. intentional).
- To evaluate the impact of the 'Children Can't Fly' program on preventing accidental falls from windows.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical and social data for 61 pediatric patients admitted for falls from one or more stories.
- Analysis of survival rates based on the height of the fall.
- Categorization of fall circumstances: accidental, jumping, or being pushed.
Main Results:
- Overall survival rate was 77% for children falling from heights.
- All children (100%) who fell three stories or less survived.
- A 50% mortality rate was observed for falls between the fifth and sixth floors.
- Seventy-seven percent of falls were accidental, while 23% involved intentional jumping or pushing.
- A significant 96% decrease in accidental falls from windows since 1979 was noted.
Conclusions:
- Falls from height pose a serious risk to urban children, with survival rates decreasing as the fall height increases.
- Intentional acts (jumping or pushing) account for a notable proportion of falls.
- 'Children Can't Fly' program has been highly effective in reducing accidental window falls in the studied population.
Abstract:
Falls from a height are a major cause of accidental death in urban children. The medical and social data on 61 children admitted over the last decade for falls of one or more stories were reviewed. Seventy-seven percent of the children survived. Of the children who fell three stories or less, all survived (100%). Fifty percent mortality occurred between the fifth and sixth floors. Seventy-seven percent of the falls were accidental and 23% of the children jumped or were pushed. The 96% decrease in accidental falls from windows since 1979 demonstrates that the "Children Can't Fly" program in New York City has almost eliminated accidental falls from windows in our hospital population.