How To React and Examine A Child Who Fell Down A Flight of Stairs
The first thing to understand about a child falling down the stairs is that its no way as serious as it sounds. While an adult falling down the stairs is quite serious this is not the case with a child. An adult weighs more, is larger, and is taller than a child. When an adult falls down a flight of stairs we might suspect a head or spinal injury resulting from a head first fall. A child on the other hand is not only smaller and shorter than an adult, but their bones are more flexible and less susceptible to injury.
In 2002 the Archives of Disease in Childhood (ADC) released a study titled “Do Falls Down Stairs Cause Serious Injury In Preschool Children?” Data was collected over the course of 18 months from 437 children with ages ranging from under nine months to around four years old. The study concluded the following:
Only 6 children (1%) sustained proximal limb fractures. There were no rib fracture. There were no deaths or severe injuries such as cerebral hemorrhages/tears, visceral trauma or spinal fractures.
Conclusions: Severe injuries and death do not occur as a result of falls down stairs. The pattern of injury is peripheral with sparing of the trunk. Multiple injuries are rare.
(Please note that this post (and the above study as well), is not dealing with a fall down the stairs involving a baby in a walker. Falls of this nature are much more severe for several reasons which are beyond the scope of this post.)
What To Do
The one thing you shouldn’t do when your child falls down the stairs is scream, “OH MY G-D, OH MY G—D!!!, JENNIFER FELL DOWN THE STAIRS!!! OH MY G—D!!! JENNIFERRRRR!!! Even if your daughter’s name is not Jennifer.
Freaking out like that WILL NOT help the situation.
Scene Survey
As you are running to your child take note of the following:
- Is your child crying?
- Is your child moving?
- Is your child bleeding?
If the answers are yes, yes, and no, then that’s great.
Is your child crying?
Your child should cry after falling down a flight of stairs. Crying means that they are conscious and alert. Hopefully, there’s no serious head injury other than a bump on the head.
Is your child moving?
If your child is moving or can move their arms and legs then we can almost rule out any spinal injury.
Is your child bleeding?
It’s obviously a good thing if there is no external bleeding. If you see blood then chances are likely that they are bleeding from either their nose or mouth. The bleeding would probably be minor.
Examining Your Child
Once you reach your child its important to try to remain calm. Your child may be screaming but its important to examine them properly.
Here’s what you should look for:
- Injury to the head, neck, arms, legs
- If they can move
- If they can feel you touching their hands and legs
It’s good to start by asking your child where it hurts. If they tell you that their head hurts then gently feel their head for any obvious injury and bleeding. A bump is common and is generally no need for concern. If they aren’t complaining of any pain in the arms and legs then chances are they have no injury there. If they do complain of pain to either their arms or legs you can easily examine them for possible fractures by following the directions in this past post.
If you are neurotic and still concerned that your child suffered a more serious injury then you could examine their neck as well. Simply feel along the back of their neck for any obvious deformity. If you are not sure what to feel for then feel the back of your own neck to get an idea of what feels normal. After you’ve examined their neck you could ask them to move their arms and legs for you. You could then touch their feet and ask them if they can feel your touch.
Once you’ve determined that except for a few bumps and bruises your child is fine you could then decide if you want to take them to the doctor for further examination.
Like I mentioned before, chances are slim that your child suffered a serious injury from falling down the stairs. The worst thing you could do in this situation is overreact.
This post was submitted to the March 3 issue of the Carnival of Family Life hosted over at Discussing Autism.
February 4th, 2008 at 3:48 am
I’m really glad I read this! My daughter feel down the stairs she seems just fine, but I just feel so guilty and that I let her down. I stopped freaking out once i read this. Thank you
February 4th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Hi Christy, I hope your daughter is fine and I am happy my post helped.
Thanks for the feedback and gratitude.
March 2nd, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Thanks for participating in this week’s Carnival of Family Life, hosted at Discussing Autism. The Carnival will be live tomorrow, so stop by and enjoy some of the other many articles contributed this week!
Interesting in hosting? Check out the schedule at Colloquium and let me know which week interests you!
JHS
Colloquium
March 3rd, 2008 at 3:50 am
[...] Ellen presents How To React and Examine A Child Who Fell Down A Flight of Stairs posted at [...]
June 7th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Thank you for the info
Our daughter just fell down stairs, ironically
while we were fixing a gate to the wall!!!
It was the most horrendous moment…but I now feel better.
July 7th, 2008 at 3:27 am
My daughter just fell down a flight of stairs as well and I am overwhelmed with the guilt and shame. I was right beside her and couldn’t do anything !! Been getting nightmares from this. Thanks for your article, it made me feel better.
July 28th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
same thing happened. My 2 year old toppled on hard stairs (2-3 steps) and had a bump on her nose. i was right next to her when she lost her balance. i just felt horrible and shameful. I still feel guilty.
August 30th, 2008 at 9:52 am
thankyou for putting my mind at rest have been convinced that the fall down the stairs must have done some damage to our daughter but this has put it into perspective thanx
September 4th, 2008 at 3:24 am
Thank you! My daughter fell down the stairs today and I feel so guilty but it makes me feel better to know that other parents experience this and that my instincts that my daughter was startled but not injured seem to line up with what you’re saying.
September 4th, 2008 at 8:03 am
Lisa, Taryn,
Its good to hear that your kids are ok. I am glad that my post helped. thanks for the feedback.
September 18th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
my youngest daughter fell down the stairs a couple of days ago only 2 stairs she is 11 she should have knowing better but she was earing socks on a carpet and slid and bumped her head of the edge of the kitchen door her head was bleeding for 2 mins and she took a black-out also she has burst a blood vesel on her nose wich is bleeding and now she had to get a jag in her nose and her head has kinda heelled still a big scar but.But reading this advice made me think im stupid cause i had to run outside with my daughter panicking making her sit at a step with water and me really panicking i should of took i big breath and took this advice but u cant blame me she nrly died the doc said she was luck to live cause she also fractered her neck and now its helled but still in hospital 4 check up’s this will really help all my children have bumepd there head as my son fell in a fire place luck he did not burn his skin is perfect but he luck my daughter when she was little fell into a brick wall after riding a bike and not knowing how to stop and my other daughter in a weel chair fell onto the ground im luck there ALL alive i have now got 4 perfect daughter and 1 perfect boy !!!plz replay
February 21st, 2009 at 8:53 pm
My 13 month old daughter just fell down an entire flight of stairs 2 days ago and I’m still experiencing a lot of anxiety about it! My daughter is doing fine! She is still fearless and sustained no injuries. I took her to the chiropractor right away and had her examined/adjusted. Her back, neck, right shoulder, elbow and hip were out of line but not dislocated. Thank God! I still feel horrible but this article puts me a little more at ease.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Thank you so much for this. I feel like much less of a failure after reading your article. I have experienced a child falling down the stairs as well and the guilt and shame is overwhelming - not to mention the horrible flashbacks. Especially when I read the “what you should do” (or not to do) section I burst out laughing as I found myself inserted my own voice into the “OH MY G-D…” My own reaction wasn’t too far off. Thanks for making me feel even an inch better.
March 10th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
My daughter just fell down the stairs an hour ago and my husband emailed me this article from work. It too really put my mind as ease, i am still slightly concerned about her right shoulder but will check it again when she wakes up from her nap. She calmed down quickly after the fall and we just had a little cuddle time. Thanks for the article it really puts things in perspective.
March 17th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
My nephew just fell off the stairs like 30 mins ago. i told his sister, whom is 7, to watch him while i ran down stairs to get her shoes. I was all the way down stairs and she yells aunt evie and then i see him falling. I was just like omg!!! It happend so fast that im shocked now how couldnt i of caught him. I feel like a terrible aunt!!! He just has a small bruise on his head. but i feel so horrible.
March 24th, 2009 at 12:53 am
Thank you so much for this. My son fell down the stairs and i was so guilt ridden. It is such an awful feeling when you can’t stop it. I feel much better now. He is talking and walking fine. Thank you again.
March 26th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
Thanks for your article. I just recently heard about Liam Nissan’s wife on the news and am still pretty freaked out that my 15 month son just fell down an entire flight of (carpeted) stairs (2.5 hours ago.) I was around the corner in his nursery so sure his gate was shut securely. The only explanation is that it must not have been and I feel so guilty. I just heard the thumping and then his cry when he hit bottom. He was laying on his back. He only cried for a minute or less, was clingy for 5-10 minutes and then himself again. I am not a dramatic person, so I didn’t freak out verbally, but I held him so tight for as long as he’d take it - like when I first brought him home from the hospital and would never let go. I feel like I will never stop imagining his fall. He is taking a nap now and I have the monitor up so loud that I can hear every breath. My husband came home early from work and I spoke with his doctor’s nurse and the hospital’s nurse hotline. Both assured me he is probably fine based on the facts and told me what signs to watch out for. I often let him have the run of the upstairs hall and nurseries while I pick up his room etc. and have been so paranoid about that gate being shut. I feel like we’ll be spending a lot of time downstairs now…
April 9th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
reading this has put my mind at ease and made me giggle at start with not how to react!need to find humor in everything.. my 3 yr old son just fell head first down the stairs.. all of them..i heard a bang a shout and a lil body come sliding past living room door.. my reaction was a scream before getting to him and alot of panic about injuries.. even as he 2 mins later was running through the house being his usual destructive self.. this though has put my mind at rest.. none of you and no one should feel bad about yourself,i go out of my way to see to it my children are safe,can’t protect them from everything and can’t keep them from being children though.. accidents are part of chidhood and will teach the child things parents words and precautions can not..
April 24th, 2009 at 5:12 am
Oh my god, my 5 year old just fell down the stairs and i’m so freaked out! I’m so worried, because i did not see how he fell. But i do fell a little better after read everyone’s comments.
April 27th, 2009 at 3:11 am
I’m so glad I read this article. My 20 month old fell down 14 hardwood steps, landing on tile. YIKES. She cried for about 5 min. I was calm then she was back to her playful normal self. The nurse I called said I should check on her for 6 hrs, once per hour while she is sleeping. She has a bump on her eyebrow and some bruises on her face. But she’s fine….
April 29th, 2009 at 2:58 am
Thank you. I had this happen to my 11 month old daughter today. Of course, I cannot sleep- I just keep going over and over the whole thing in my mind. She tumbled down 8 carpeted stairs. Every time I close my eyes I envision what happened- I turned around and she was already tumbling down- and I couldn’t get to her- it was nightmarish. I had to call my husband home from work because I was dry heaving and hyper ventillating I was so upset. At least I know that I’m not the first and am soooo grateful for everyone’s comments.
May 8th, 2009 at 1:25 am
Thanks for all the comments - our 18 month old son fell down 8 hardwood steps onto a tile floor and all I can think of is Natasha Richardson! He cried for about 5 minutes and then returned to normal. Of course this happened within 30 minutes of bedtime. We tried to keep him up but he is tired because it is his normal bedtime! I will check him every 30 minutes or so and I am sure I will wake him up once or twice…..I do feel better after reading all of this!!
May 29th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Thank you for posting your comments. My 16 months fell down the stairs as well , I feel so guilt but she was really fast. She is fine , running , talking… But not sure if I can sleep tonight I will proberly check her every 5 minutes. But your comments really helped better than NHS 24 nobody there to answer my call.
May 30th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
I am really happy to hear that this post helped. thank you for the positive feedback.
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:45 am
My 17 month old fell down a full flight of stairs (carpeted - 12 steps) yesterday. Safety gate was closed and I was RIGHT THERE! We were going towards her bedroom and she turned and ran towards the gate. Pushed the middle of the gate and it just opened. I never like her to even touch the gate, but I couldn’t grab her in time. She rolled down the entire stairs backwards and landed on her back and head hit floor. I was just inches from getting her the entire time…but couldn’t get her. I just wanted to get her before she hit the bottom. She is FINE. AMAZINGLY!!
She only had a diaper on as we were in the process of changing her. She got a couple of scrapes…but that is all. I really thought the worst as she fell. I am still crying a day and a half later. I was up all night last night checking on her. I did call 911 right away and ambulance was there within minutes. We took her to the doctor today as well. She is absolutely fine. I am just traumatized. This article/post really really helps. It will be a while before I can put the image out of my mind though….if ever.
June 25th, 2009 at 2:15 am
My 13 month old daughter fell down the stairs earlier today. I thought the gate was closed but as i was changing my clothes i heard some thumps down the stairs. my daughter often throws things through the gate slots, but this time when i checked to see what happened i saw my daughter at the bottom of the stairs. i freaked out and flew down the stairs to get to her. i still feel sick to my stomach thinking how I let that happen, but i am so thankful that God made these precious little ones so tuff. what an awful day. thanks for writing this post. i do feel much better knowing that i am not the only one that has a story like this!
July 1st, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Thanks. My 5 yr. old daughter is on vacation with her Dad at Grandma’s and he called to tell me that she fell down a flight if stairs. No one witnessed the fall so we are not sure if she hit her head but she did bust her lip. I told him to keep a close eye on her and not let her fall asleep, and if he sees her acting dazed or confused to rush her to the hospital. This article did make me feel a little more at ease.
July 2nd, 2009 at 12:02 am
My 9 moth old baby girl just fell down 5 hardwood steps and landed on her face atop a pile of shoes and paint cans. She has a lumpsasaurus starting on her hairline, but otherwise seems ok. Like the other moms though, I’ll be on alert and freaking out for several days. Great article, thanks!