A 10 Month Old Who Fell Down Several Stairs While Using a Walker

3/11/2008

I recently saw a 10 month old who sustained a bump to the forehead after falling down several steps while using a walker. The child had no signs of serious head injury (mainly vomiting), unusual behavior, poor feeding or loss of consciousness.

The reason that I am bringing up this issue is that it has been quite a few years since I have come across a child who was injured while using a walker. Years ago it was determined that these walkers which were commonly used by families, were in fact dangerous to have in the home. The primary mechanism of walker injury, sometimes fatal, was head and neck injuries after a fall down steps. Walkers allow a curious baby to get into places they do not belong like staircases. The child then takes a tumble while constrained in this bottom heavy behemoth and sustains a potentially serious injury. These walkers should not be purchased by anybody at anytime.

This child was fortunate but the take home message lies in the family never using a walker and always putting a child safety gate at all staircase tops and bottoms thus minimizing these injuries.

      

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