Parents do their best to keep their children safe, but kids will always find ways to get bumps, bruises, and other injuries. Their personalities can vary from fearless daredevils to kids who trip over nothing. They’re curious, constantly learning, and eager to test cause and effect, sometimes without realizing the risks. Because of this, pediatric injuries are common.
Common Causes of Pediatric Injuries
A study in the Journal of Pediatric Surgery found that the most common causes of injury in children ages 0–18 are motor vehicle accidents and falls.
- Ages 0–9: Falls are the leading cause of injury because younger kids are still developing balance and coordination.
- Ages 10–18: Motor vehicle accidents become the most common cause of injury.
- Ages 3–6: Pedestrian accidents rank third.
- Ages 7–10: Bicycle accidents are the third most common.
HealthPartners.com lists additional causes, including:
- Getting hit by an object (often during sports)
- Cuts or puncture wounds
- Bites or stings from animals, insects or even other kids
- Foreign objects in the body, especially up the nose
- Burns from sun exposure, hot pans, barbecues, and more
When to Seek Emergency Care: The “Five P’s”
Dr. Bianca Edison, a pediatric sports medicine and orthopedic doctor at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, explains that these signs should send a child to the emergency room right away:
- Pain – extreme pain or sensitivity
- Pallor – pale or unhealthy-looking skin
- Pulse – weak or missing pulse
- Paresthesia – numbness or tingling
- Paralysis – inability to move the injured area
Areas for Major Concern
Head Injuries
Dr. Edison emphasizes that head injuries are particularly serious. Warning signs include:
- Unusual crankiness
- Repeated vomiting
- Slurred speech
- Uneven pupils
- Sudden changes in walking or coordination
Any of these should be treated as an emergency.
Eye Injuries
Emergency care is recommended if:
- There’s a black eye and a nosebleed
- Bleeding appears inside the white of the eye
- Both eyes are blackened after a head injury
- There’s a visible fracture around the eye socket
- The child suddenly sees double, has blurred vision, or struggles to move their eyes
Mouth and Tooth Injuries
- If a baby tooth falls out from an injury, it’s not an emergency, but a dentist should see the child within 24 hours.
- If a permanent tooth comes out, it is an emergency. Rinse it gently with saline or warm milk and try to place it back in the socket. If that doesn’t work, store it in saline or milk and get emergency help immediately.
Fractures (Broken Bones)
Fractures are very common childhood injuries and often happen from falls especially beds, playground equipment, furniture, or even from standing height. Signs of a fracture include:
- Sudden swelling
- Obvious deformity
- Refusing to use the injured arm or leg
Immediate medical care is important to prevent long-term problems.
Dry needling for pediatric care
Structure & Function Education frequently uses dry needling as a treatment method, and it’s becoming more common in pediatric care as well. According to Children’s Health, dry needling works in kids much like it does in adults. It can help relieve myofascial pain—pain caused by muscle tightness or repeated movements, such as those from sports like hockey or football.
Dry needling can also help children with:
- Chronic pain
- Nerve pain
- Headaches or migraines
- Muscle spasms after brain, spinal, or neurological injuries
- Concussion-related pain
It’s important to note that the American Physical Therapy Association recommends dry needling only for patients ages 12 and older.