preschool injuries

Preschool-kids love to tackle new challenges, as they test their physical, behavioral, and emotional limits. Preventable injuries are the leading cause of death in preschool age children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The preventable injuries commonly seen in preschoolers include: drowning, falls, and accidental poisonings. Accidents may cause a lifelong disability in a preschooler if the incident hinders the development of their body or brain. Health care providers can provide information to parents and caregivers to reduce the incidence of preschool injuries.
“Drowning is a major cause of injury death in children aged 1–4 years with an average global mortality of 7.4 per 100,000 (Blitvich, Moran, Petrass, & Stanley, 2012).” To prevent unintentional drowning, healthcare providers can provide education to parents on water safety. Health prevention strategies include: instructing parents never leave a child unsupervised near bodies of water including bath tubs, life jackets should always be worn near bodies of water, safety gates should be around pools, formal swimming lessons should be encouraged and parents instructed on CPR. CPR performed quickly on children has been shown to save lives and improve outcomes in drowning victims. Many local hospitals and community centers offer families CPR classes for free or at discounted rates.
Preschoolers are still fine tuning their motor schools and may be prone to accidents. “Falls are the leading cause of injury related hospital admissions and emergency department visits among young children. (CDC, 2014). Falls among preschoolers most often occur at home and on the playground. I have a very active four year old son whom recently fell off a slide and was left with a bruised nose and black eye. This was one of many falls he has had at the park. (Being that he is a little boy, I’m sure there are many more falls to come.)Parents can reduce falls at home by installing gates at the top and