1. Stair-related injuries sustained by infants, United States, 2001–2004
Karin A. Mack, Ph.D.
National Center for Injury Prevention & Control
Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention

2. Background
11 deaths from falls on/from stairs among infants <1 between ; 8 deaths for those aged 1 year
Chances of serious injury in fall from low height
Relevant factors
Fall height
Impact surface
Landing position/body orientation
Velocity
Mass
Age

3. 10 leading causes of nonfatal unintentional injuries for infants (treated in US emergency departments), 2006
Rank
Mechanism 1
Fall
127,747 2
Struck by/Against
30,872 3
Bite/Sting
12,456 4
Foreign Body
10,903 5
Fire/burn
10,378
Rank
Mechanism 6
Other
7,965 7
Overexertion
7,531 8
MV occupant
6,885 9
Poisoning
6,877 10
Cut/pierce
6,479

4. Data and Methods
Data were from the 2001–2004 National Electronic Injury Surveillance System–All Injury Program (NEISS–AIP)
Mechanism, intent, diagnosis, body part affected, disposition, place, age, sex, narrative, product code
Cases were selected if:
a product code indicated stairs
the child was age ≤12 months
the injury was unintentional
Case narratives were reviewed and coded
Estimates were weighted

5. Data and Methods Cases were coded into seven categories:
patient was being carried and the caregiver fell
patient was being carried and was dropped or fell from the caregiver’s arms
the patient fell or rolled down the stairs
patient fell from a car seat, stroller, or other carrier on the stairs, or was in the carrier and went down the stairs
patient was in a baby walker and went down the stairs
patient struck a stair
other
MOTHER SLIPPED/FELL WITH CHILD IN HER ARMS DOWN THE STAIRS SUSTAINING LEFT PERIORBITAL CONTUSION.
PT FELL OUT OF MOM'S ARM DOWN STAIRS DX HEAD TRAUMA
ROLLED DOWN 10 CARPETED STEPS, NO LOC. FOREHEAD CONTUSION.
MOM CARRYING PT IN A STROLLER/CAR SEAT UP STEPS, WHEN PT FELL OUT AND ONTO CONCRETE STEPS, SKULL FRACTURE
PT IN BABY WALKER FELL DOWN 13 STEPS TODAY HITTING HEAD, SKULL FX
CLIMBING STEPS AT HOME AND HIT MOUTH ON STEP. LACERATION TO TONGUE.
PT. RODE A TOY DOWN SOME STAIRS, RESULTING IN AN AVULSION OF HIS TEETH

6. Results
An estimated 20,600 infants were treated annually in emergency departments for injuries related to stairs.
Male infants were significantly more likely than female infants to sustain injuries related to stairs
Male= 56.5% % CI
Female= 43.5% 95% CI

7. Circumstances of nonfatal emergency department treated falls down stairs among infants, US,
Circumstance
Percent
(95 % CI)
Fell or rolled
61.2
( )
Being carried and caregiver fell
12.7
( )
Walker
10.2
( )
Car seat, stroller, carrier
6.9
( )
Being carried and dropped or fell from arms
4.1
( )
Struck step
2.6
( )
Other
2.4
( )

8. Circumstances of nonfatal stair related injury event among infants, by month of age, US, 2001-2004

9. Injury sustained in nonfatal fall down stairs among infants, US, 2001-2004
Diagnosis
Percent (95% CI)
Contusion/Abrasion
41.1 ( )
Internal injury
30.4 ( )
Laceration
9.4 ( )
Fracture
8.3 ( )
Concussion
2.7 ( )
Hematoma
2.6 ( )
Strain/Sprain
1.4 ( )
Dental injury
1.2 ( )
Other
2.9 ( )

10. NEISS–AIP only provides national estimates
Limitations
NEISS–AIP only includes injuries treated in hospital emergency departments
NEISS–AIP only provides national estimates
NEISS–AIP does not provide detailed sociodemographic information on individuals
Narratives occasionally provided little detail
FELL DOWN STEPS DX: HEAD CONTUSION

11. Falls in children are complex
Conclusions
26,000 infants were treated annually in emergency departments for nonfatal injuries related to stairs
8% of infants of infants sustained fractures
Male infants significantly more likely than female infants to sustain injuries related to stairs
Falls in children are complex
Developmental stage
Hazards
Supervision
Prevention

12. Karin A. Mack