Medical findings reveal a startling number of children being harmed due to ceiling fan accidents. While it might appear to be basic knowledge, healthcare specialists are now emphasizing to parents the dangers of playfully tossing their kids into the air, as it could result in a hospital visit.
A recent research article in Pediatrics highlighted that from 2013 to 2021, over 20,500 children suffered injuries linked to ceiling fans in emergency settings.
Annually, Consumer Product Safety Commission statistics show approximately 2,300 youngsters receive treatment in US emergency departments for head traumas attributed to ceiling fans.
However, specialists suggest that numerous incidents related to ceiling fan injuries probably aren’t recorded, hinting the actual figures might be greater.
According to Dr. Holly Hughes Garza, these instances might occur where parents, while being playful, are oblivious of the fan’s presence, or unintentionally raise a child under a low-hanging fan.
The findings from this study indicated that the frequency of head traumas due to ceiling fans was particularly pronounced among children below the age of 1 and those aged 4. Nevertheless, toddlers under 3 years were found to have a doubled injury risk.
According to records, 60% of the injuries treated were lacerations, with emergency medical professionals attending to these wounds. Nevertheless, there were also graver concerns like concussions and even skull fractures.
Despite many injuries being superficial, between 5% and 18% of the cases attended to in Australian emergency facilities were associated with skull fractures.
Dr. Garza suggests that we should consider that the study focused only on children who visited emergency rooms and there are probably thousands of cases of minor accidents and parents chose not to obtain medical care.
It’s imperative for parents and caregivers to carefully observe any head injuries and remain vigilant for alarming symptoms.
Nikki Jurcutz, a child safety advocate and founder of Tiny Hearts Education, shared vital insights on recognizing severe head traumas in children. Through an Instagram video, she outlined three scenarios necessitating an immediate emergency call post a child’s head injury: instances of the child becoming unconscious, repetitive vomiting, or if the child falls from a height exceedingly twice their height.
Johns Hopkins Medicine defines a head injury as any harm inflicted upon the scalp, skull, brain, or any related tissue and vessels within the head. They further emphasized that these injuries are “predominantly the leading factors for disabilities and fatalities among children.”
Jurcutz, reiterating the urgency, remarked on Instagram, “Rapid intervention is crucial for moderate to severe head traumas.”
Regarding the issue of children getting injured due to ceiling fans, various scenarios can lead to these unfortunate incidents:
- Tossing Children in the Air: Parents or caregivers might playfully throw children up into the air without realizing a ceiling fan is in operation overhead or that the ceiling is low enough for the child to come into contact with the fan.
- High Cribs or Beds: If a crib or bed is positioned directly under a ceiling fan, a child standing or bouncing might accidentally make contact with the fan, especially if it’s a low-hanging one.
- Unsupervised Play: Older children might try to jump off furniture, attempting to “touch” the fan, leading to injuries.
- Low-hanging Fans: In some homes, ceiling fans are installed at a height that might be easily reachable by a child, especially when they are on elevated surfaces or furniture.
- Carrying the Child: Parents or caregivers might be lifting or carrying their child and accidentally bring them too close to a moving ceiling fan.
- Using Stilts or Elevated Toys: Older children using toys that elevate them, such as pogo sticks or stilts, indoors might inadvertently come into contact with a ceiling fan.
- Hanging Objects: Children might attempt to hang objects or toys from the ceiling fan, risking injury when they try to retrieve them.
- Curiosity: Young children, being naturally curious, might try to touch or play with the fan when it’s not in motion, but could accidentally turn it on and hurt themselves.
- Improper Installations: Ceiling fans that are not securely mounted could fall or become dislodged, leading to injuries.
- Faulty or Broken Fans: If a fan blade is broken or if there are other structural issues with the fan, it might cause unpredictable movement or even break apart while in operation.
To minimize these risks, it’s crucial for parents and caregivers to ensure that ceiling fans are securely and appropriately installed out of children’s reach, and to supervise children closely, especially during play.
CONTACT PARKER WAICHMAN LLP FOR A FREE CASE REVIEW
Parker Waichman LLP helps families recover monetary compensation for harm caused by dangerous products. For your free consultation, contact our national product liability law firm today by using our live chat or calling 1-800-YOUR-LAWYER (1-800-968-7529).