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It is never good news when a child or teen has to be admitted to the hospital, especially when the cause of hospitalization potentially is preventable. “Calls for kids are among the worst kind we have to run,” says Poudre Valley Health System (PVHS) Paramedic Clay Young. “It’s really unfortunate when kids have injuries that can be easily prevented by people exercising safety precautions.”

Whether delivered by ambulance, or by a parent or guardian, a total of 351 injury hospitalizations for children ages birth to 14 years occurred in Larimer County between 2003 and 2007. Falls were the No. 1 cause of those hospitalizations, according to information compiled by the Healthier Communities Coalition of Larimer County (HCC) in its report, The State of Children and Youth in Larimer County (www.healthylarimer.org). During the same time period, 556 teens were admitted to the hospital for injuries; sadly, suicide attempts were the No. 1 cause of those injuries. Motor-vehicle crashes are the second cause of hospitalizations for both age groups.

Furthermore, according to Safe Kids USA, children living in families with a low income are more likely to sustain injuries from falls than their peers. HCC reports that “compared to children not living in poverty, poor children are 1.5 times more likely to miss 10 or more days of school due to illness or injury.”

“This should be cause for even greater alarm in our community given that the number of children living in poverty in Larimer County has increased 1.9 times faster than the state and 6.8 times faster than the nation since 2000,” says Lise Youngblade, head of Colorado State University’s Department of Human Development and Family Studies and HCC president.

Thankfully, however, parents can do several things to help prevent their children and teens from becoming one of these statistics.

Preventing hurtful falls
Data as to why children fall is very random; there does not seem to be any single factor on which to focus fall-preventative efforts. From jumping on trampolines and pogo sticks to tumbling out of a shopping cart or window, the reasons for fall-injuries are many.

When it comes to falls for children birth to age 3 years, PVHS health educator Laura Richardson says that two main factors come into play: the lack of active supervision and an unsafe environment. Active supervision includes keeping a hand on babies and children when they are on elevated surfaces, such as changing tables, or securely fastening children into shopping carts or strollers using safety straps.


“We live in a multitasking society and sometimes parents think active supervision means being in the same room with their children or being outside with them, but it really means being present with their children,” Richardson explains. “If they can’t actively supervise, then parents need to assess the risks of not doing so and pay more attention to making kids’ environment safe.”

Janet Werst, PVHS Early Childhood Programs supervisor, also stresses the importance of not putting car seats on elevated surfaces when a baby or toddler occupies them. “We see way too many accidents of this nature. Car seats are made for travel only.”

Environmental concerns include improperly mounted gates at the top or bottom of stairs, and windows without childproof locks; window screens are not considered reliable fall-prevention devices. Unstable furniture that can be pulled over when a child uses it to pull up on also presents an environmental hazard.

Falls resulting in injuries requiring hospitalization in older children often are due to kids using playground equipment that is not age-appropriate; and not wearing protective gear, such as helmets, elbow and knee pads, when using wheeled toys such as bicycles, scooters, skateboards and inline skates.

“Parents should take into account that there’s a learning curve when a child goes from using roller skates to riding a skate board; they require different balancing skills,” says Werst. “When kids are introduced to a new sport, they need appropriate supervision until they gain the skills necessary to safely manipulate the new piece of equipment.”

If your child falls and experiences “anything more than a light bump to the head,” Banner Health Neurologist Marc Wasserman recommends that parents contact their healthcare provider, especially if they lose consciousness, complain of a headache, vomit, complain of numbness or a tingling sensation, seem confused, are difficult to awaken, have difficulty walking, or exhibit any other symptoms that seem abnormal.

To address the second cause of injury hospitalizations in children and youth of all ages—motor vehicle crashes—Richardson says simply, “Everybody needs to buckle up properly and avoid distracted driving.”

How to help your teen
Teenagers present a whole other set of concerns when it comes to keeping them safe from injuries requiring hospitalization. Rather than protecting them from physical falls, parents should be more concerned about protecting them from emotional ones. This can be difficult, however, because teens’ tendencies to need more sleep, display unpredictable moods and possible apathy towards household chores can cause parents to misread warning signs of depression or worse.

Dana Lindsay, executive director of Suicide Resource Center (SRC), uses her own experience with depression as a teen when she tries to help others. “When I was growing up, I thought I was lazy and my parents thought I was lazy. I literally couldn’t get out of bed on many days. Even the smallest of chores, such as putting a dish in the sink, seemed like an impossible task. I also cried a lot and withdrew from my friends; I’d make plans and then cancel them.”

When other medical tests returned negative results, Lindsay was diagnosed with depression, which is a chemical imbalance in the brain, and can lead to suicidal ideations.

Warning signs that could indicate your teen is depressed or may be emotional unstable include:

Sadness
Feeling hopeless, helpless, worthless
Feeling irritable, angry, restless, inappropriately guilty
Change in appetite, weight, sleep patterns, self-care
Excess fatigue and loss of energy
Difficulty concentrating
Decreased interest in activities
Change in school performance
Withdrawal/isolation
Physical complaints
Alcohol or drug use
Severe mood swings
Talking or writing about suicide and death
Giving away possessions
Careless, high-risk behavior

SRC’s Web site ( www.suicideresourcecenter.org) notes, “One or two of these signs may be present in many people." Look for a pattern of changes in one's behavior.”

Perhaps one of the simplest ways parents can discern whether their teen needs help is by talking to them. “Sometimes kids know something is wrong, but they don’t know how to say it or who to say it to,” Lindsay emphasizes. “Parent also can look out for their kids’ friends. Sometimes it’s easier for kids to talk to their friends’ parents rather than their own.”

Through its school-based RAPP program or Raising Awareness of Personal Power, SRC staff teaches middle- and high-school students about these warning signs and how to ask for help if they or someone they know is experiencing them. Schools began including RAPP in their health curriculum in 1996. More than 4,000 students receive this information each year.

“The reason I tell my own story is because I think it’s important for people to know that you can be successful and have a mood disorder,” says Lindsay. “It doesn’t mean you will be a failure; it just means you need a little help.”

Kim Sharpe is the Healthier Communities Coalition of Larimer County coordinator.

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Protecting our kids
Check out the following resources for injury prevention and mental health assistance.

Injury prevention

Safe Kids Larimer County, www.safekidslcc.org, 970-495-7504
Safe Kids Worldwide, www.usa.safekids.org, 202-662-0600

Banner Health, www.bannerhealth.com, keyword: Banner Kids
Northern Colorado Medical Center, Greeley, 970-350-6256
McKee Medical Center, Loveland, 970-669-4640

Poudre Valley Health System, www.pvhs.org, 970-495-7504, Fort Collins and Loveland

Mental health assistance

Connections (mental health and substance abuse resources), 970-221-5551
Suicide Resource Center, www.suicideresourcecenter.org, 970-635-9301
Toll-free Suicide Hotline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Larimer Center for Mental Health, www.larimercenter.org, 970-494-4200
North Range Behavioral Health, www.northrange.org, 970-347-2120

24-hour emergency services provided by calling these phone numbers or dial 9-1-1.