Domestic accidents with children: know the dangers inside the house

Anyone who has a child in the house knows: attention to the little ones must be constant, given the high incidence of accidents, which happen at the slightest slip. Domestic accidents become more frequent when the baby starts to crawl, around eight months of age. From there, when she stands up and starts walking, there is already a risk of climbing small obstacles, which makes opening windows, for example, extremely dangerous.

The fall is the accident that tops the ranking of the most common indoors, involving children. Data from the Ministry of Health’s DataSUS reveal that, in 2013 alone, 753 children were hospitalized in the country due to “falling from or out of buildings or other structures”.

The annual average of deaths in Brazil is 33 children since then. Data from the NGO Criança Segura show that falls tend to happen, more often, among children up to 9 years of age — a data corroborated by the Ministry of Health, which warns that domestic accidents are the main cause of death in children up to 9 years of age in Brazil. .

So, screen windows, balconies, balconies, mezzanines, guardrails and any other openings that present a risk of falling is mandatory for those who have children at home. “The recommendation is that the screens be installed even before birth, to prevent accidents with babies who move and propel themselves from the lap”, guides pediatrician Luiz Renato Valério, from Hospital Pequeno Príncipe, a pediatric institution in Curitiba (PR), reference in the care of children.

All windows in the house must be screened, even those in the bathrooms, which are usually left out due to the installation height and reduced size. Those who have the tilting model at home can and should also use the feature. In these cases, the network is installed inside the property. If there is concern about cleaning the frames, specialized companies offer removable screens as an alternative.

Other dangers at home

Falls, however, should not be the only concern, as there are many other recurrent domestic accidents common to children exploring indoor and outdoor environments. In addition to falling from a height, smooth and wet environments, such as the bathroom stall, are also a potential risk, which makes it important for older children to bathe under adult supervision.

Babies, despite their poor mobility, require special attention, as they can seriously injure themselves when falling from common places. “Bed, sofa and crib are places of recurrent falls. We advise parents and guardians to always ensure that the baby will be safe when they wake up and there is no supervision at the time”, continues Valério.

In wet environments, the concern should be, in addition to falling, also with the risk of drowning. Therefore, children have no indication of being alone in places with buckets, basins, tanks and bathtubs, for example, which pose a risk of drowning even with water at low height.

Burns are also common among children indoors. According to the doctor, they should not circulate in the kitchen, especially when the stove is in operation. “The problem is not just the fire. It is necessary to consider access to gas, to the oven door, to boiling water and oil and to pans that can be pulled by the handle”, he states. Burn care should never be done at home or with homemade recipes.

Still in the kitchen, you need to be extra careful with sharp objects, such as knives, scissors and glass. “They are all utensils that should be stored, preferably, in high cabinets and drawers to which children really do not have access”, guides the doctor.

The risk of poisoning also needs to be considered indoors. It usually happens with medicines, cleaning products and insecticides, which must be stored in reserved places and without access.

“Ingestion is a real risk, especially because of the curiosity that these products generate. If it happens, adults should know that inducing vomiting is never indicated. The expressed orientation is to seek professional help in emergency care”, says Valério.

Foreign body ingestion is another common problem among the pediatric population, with the majority of cases recorded in children under five years of age, according to the expert.

“Therefore, paying attention to the indications of the ideal age group, made by toy manufacturers, is important. The truth is that nothing indoors can be neglected, given the risk of accidents that is present in practically everything when it comes to children. . Underestimating the risk is the first conduct for an accident to happen”, concludes the doctor.