A bed, a couch or even a table can be a dangerous place for a baby or child.<\/p>\n
It is essential to be vigilant and consider safety aspects at all times.<\/p>
The risk of children or babies falling off something is quite high as they do not have fully developed coordination or balance as yet compared to that of an adult or adolescent.<\/p>\n
Dayne Olsen, an emergency care practitioner (ECP) at the ER24 Vaal Branch, recently responded to an incident where a baby fell from a height at a home in Sebokeng in the south of Gauteng.<\/p>
At this specific scene, a one-year-old baby girl sustained serious head injuries after she allegedly fell from the top of a table.<\/p>\n
Dayne and other paramedics treated her and had to provide her with advanced life support interventions before she was airlifted to hospital.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt happens quite often where young children fall off something.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven if you as a parent or a supervising adult think you\u2019re just quickly going to reach for this or quickly going to do this, an accident can still happen.<\/p>\n
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ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n Learn the important skill of CPR<\/a><\/p>\n Make sure your children are in appropriate car seats<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPlease don\u2019t leave your children unattended for even a second.<\/p>\n \u201cNot even in a high chair or even on the bed as they can roll or fall off the bed,\u201d said Dayne.<\/p>\n How do I know if the fall seriously injured my child?<\/strong><\/p>\n According to The Royal Children\u2019s Hospital in Melbourne<\/a>, it depends on the seriousness of the fall and this can be influenced by three important factors:<\/p>\n The height the child can fall from:<\/strong><\/p>\n The lower the height, the lower the danger.<\/p>\n What the child falls onto:<\/strong><\/p>\n Hard surfaces such as concrete, ceramic tiles, and even compacted sand are more hazardous to fall onto than softer surfaces. Impact absorbing or soft fall materials under play equipment are recommended to provide a softer landing.<\/p>\n What the child may hit as they fall:<\/strong><\/p>\n Place sharp-edged furniture such as coffee tables to the side of the room, where a child is unlikely to fall on to them.<\/p>\n General safety tips:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Have a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za <\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or\u00a0Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n YouTube\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Or add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n
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