In summer, pay attention to windows and balconies: there are children with multiple falls, trauma patients in intensive care.

Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital Pediatric Intensive Care Teaching and Administrative Assistant Prof. dr. Dr. Esra Şevketoğlu said: “Currently, more than one child is suffering from falls and trauma in our clinic. Furniture such as armchairs and chairs should not be placed in front of the window, the chains of the roller blinds cause us to face situations where children hang and suffocate, it is very important to take precautions. We regularly see drownings in the summer, children should never be left alone on the beach. Despite all the interventions, we lose some of our patients.”

Families, taking advantage of the good weather after the school holidays, come with their children to take a breather in the sea, the swimming pool, the park and the gardens, while opening the windows and balcony doors without precautions can cause accidents due to the high temperatures. Experts, on the other hand, warned families by stating that situations such as falls from heights and drowning are common in the summer months. Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital Pediatric Intensive Care Teaching and Administrative Assistant Prof. dr. Dr. Esra Şevketoğlu also drew attention to the importance of taking precautions against accidents at home. Stating that items such as windows, balcony railings and the bench in front of the window can cause major accidents when children climb, Prof. Dr. Esra Şevketoğlu stated that the chains of roller blinds should be wrapped around the child’s neck and that families should not leave their children alone allowed in case of drowning. Şevketoğlu stated that more than one child has been hospitalized from intensive care units due to a fall from height and trauma.

“There is more than one child suffering from high falls and trauma in our clinic”

Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital Pediatric Intensive Care Teaching and Administrative Assistant Prof. dr. Dr Esra Şevketoğlu said: “It changes seasonally, as patients come to intensive care mainly in winter months due to infectious diseases, falls from a height and drowning in water emerge, especially in spring and summer months. For example, there is more than one child with high falls and trauma that we are currently following in our clinic. These are important things that families should keep in mind. For example, 2 children are children falling from the balcony and window. It is very important to take precautions here at home, for example, a child can fall through a 10 cm window opening. For this reason, windows in particular must be secured in such a way that they can be opened in a controlled manner during the summer months. Balcony railings should be high enough so that children cannot fall or climb. If there are handrails, they should be no narrower than 2.5 cm or wider than 6 cm. Therefore, a large number of measures must be taken with regard to children falling at home. It is important not to place furniture such as armchairs or chairs in front of the window, because children climb on everything. For anything with drawers, these drawers should be locked. Because children can open the bottom drawers and use it as a ladder and then fall.

“Despite all the interventions, we lose some of our patients”

Prof. Dr. Esra Şevketoğlu stated that they may be faced with heavy paintings due to accidents at home, and sometimes the processes end with the loss of life. Speaking about the precautions families should take, Şevketoğlu continued: “If there is a television or a heavy object on the bedside tables, we face severe head trauma situations when objects fall on it. Again, among the precautions to be taken at home, I can say from the patients we follow here that unfortunately the chains on the roller blinds mean that we are faced with situations where children hang and suffocate. In the summer we often see drownings. It is very important that children should never be left alone on the beach. It is important to go to the sea or pool with a parent. It is important to ensure that the child is never alone at the pool or in the sea. Knowing how to always provide first aid when faced with such a situation is very important for the child’s survival and in case of a possible disability later on, it is therefore important that first aid training is also followed. It is very important never to leave children under the age of 5 at home alone. Electrical outlets should be closed because they can temporarily expose children to illnesses that can send them to intensive care. Despite all the interventions after admission of children who need intensive care in our clinic, we lose some of our patients. It’s a very frustrating process for the family and for us as doctors. Therefore, the healthiest process will be to ensure that they do not occur by taking precautions to avoid them.”