What Are the Danger Signs to Look for When Kids Fall Out of a Bed?

Falling out of bed is a common accident among kids, and, while many of those tumbles produce only minor "boo-boos" that are not serious, some falls can result in substantial injuries, such as head trauma, broken bones, lacerations and spinal injuries that could be life-threatening. According to Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, there are particular danger signs to look for to separate the minor injuries from the serious ones.

Head Trauma

• Bumps to the head may appear insignificant, but serious complications can occur. The most common symptoms of serious head injury are abnormal sleepiness and a persistent headache, accompanied by vomiting or nausea. According to Johns Hopkins Children's Center, other danger signs, such as dilation of the pupils and slurred speech, are often coupled with muscle weakness, which results in difficulty standing or sitting, mental confusion and a high incidence of agitation. Each of these warning signs can occur as a single symptom or may be clustered as multiple symptoms; they could indicate swelling in the brain, hemorrhage or severe concussion. Prompt evaluation by a licensed medical professional is recommended.

Fractures

• Children’s bodies are resilient and pliable, so it is often difficult to discern if a fall from the bed has resulted in broken bones. When limbs are misshapen or out of place, it is a good indicator that a fracture may have occurred. Numbness and a tingling sensation surrounding the injury and extreme pain when moving the affected limb are also warning signs of a fracture. Other indicators are an inability to move the injured limb or body part, extreme swelling and immediate, deep-colored bruising.

Lacerations

• Danger signs of a serious cut include profuse bleeding that does not stop and open wounds that penetrate deeper than the outer layer of the skin. A timely evaluation of a cut is important, because “deep cuts should be sutured within six hours of the injury,” according to Dr. John Cunha, DO., a physician in the Emergency Department at Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Cunha further recommends prompt medical evaluation of any cut for children who are diabetic, undergoing chemotherapy, on medications such as steroids or have any type of suppressed immune system.

Back or Neck Injury

• According to the Mayo Clinic, a tingling or numbing sensation in all limbs, a loss of bowel and bladder function, and an unnatural, twisted body position are symptoms of neck or back injury. If there is any accompanying sign of head injury and the child is complaining of pain or unable to move his head, neck or back, the Mayo Clinic advises to not move him; call a medical professional immediately.