Constant exposure to trauma-related injuries can shape a nurse's perspective on things they may or may not let their children do. This blog will list the top 10 things nurses, as parents, wont let their children do.
#1 Swim in a pool unattended
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children drowning is the number one cause of death between the ages of one and four years. The risk continues from age five through 15 but drops to the second leading cause of death.
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or epilepsy are at a higher risk of drowning than other children. Parents and caretakers should supervise children of all ages around water, and state laws should be followed for child safety.
#2 Sit in the front seat of the car
Motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) are the leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths for children aged 5-14. They can lead to a wide range of injuries from the head, neck, chest, abdomen, and extremities. Children have an increased risk of injury when sitting in the front seat. More than 5000 children die each year in MVAs.
Each state has different guidelines for when a child can sit in the front seat. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under 4 ft 9 and younger than 13 should sit in the back seat.
#3 Touch an unfamiliar animal or pet
Another thing nurse parents wont let their children do is touch unfamiliar animals or pets. Pets that seem friendly and have never attacked can still react unpredictably when feeling threatened. A dog may perceive an innocent pet or a tail grab as an act of aggression and bite.
Each year, 3.9 million people in the US suffer from a dog bite. Due to their size, toddlers and younger children are at a greater risk of being bitten on the face or head than adults.
Keep in mind that safety should also be maintained in the home with your own animals. The majority of dog bites occur when household pets are involved.
#4 Sleepover at an unfamiliar household
Sleepovers are a childhood classic, but a child staying in a home you are unfamiliar with can be dangerous. While the people hosting a sleepover may be good people, there could be a lack of supervision or education for the children about household items or chemicals that can be dangerous.
It is estimated that 1 million children ingest toxins each year in the US (Verive, 2022). These household toxins can include cleaning products, cosmetics, perfumes, and other household items. Sleepovers introduce risks associated with unknown environments and a possible lack of adequate supervision.
#5 Play with fireworks
Burns are the fourth most common non-fatal injury seen in the emergency room (ER). Open flames and sources of ignition, including fireworks, candles, matches, and lighters, pose a severe risk of burning children. These open flame burns or contact burns are the second most significant type of burns in pediatrics seen in the ER.
#6 Ride ATV or dirt bikes
All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and dirt bikes can pose a serious hazard to older children around the age of 15 and younger. Each year, there are around 30,000 visits to the ER because of an ATV or dirt bike accident. There are around 100 pediatric ATV-related deaths each year in the United States.
#7 Jump on trampoline
Trampolines and trampoline parks are becoming increasingly popular amongst kids and teens. However, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, over 200,000 trampoline-related injuries are reported each year, with the majority occurring in children aged 5-14. These injuries often involve fractures, with upper extremities accounting for 60% and lower extremities for 36%.
#8 Play tackle football
Tackle football is a popular sport among young boys. However, it comes at an increased risk of concussions. Studies show that tackle football is responsible for 2/3 of all football-related concussions. The potential for concussions, along with other risks like heat injuries during the summer months, motivates most nurse parents to steer clear of tackle football.
#9 Cook on the stovetop unsupervised
Children trying to cook on the stovetop can lead to unintentional contact burns and scalding burns. Children do not have the reflexes and coordination as adults do, which can lead to increased and severe injuries. Scalding burns from cooking liquids are the most frequent type of pediatric burn. It makes up around 80% of pediatric burn injuries seen in the ER (Jordan et al., 2022).
#10 Jumping on the bed or couch
Falls are a leading cause of traumatic injuries in children who are treated in the ER. Children under the age of five have the highest fall rate and are the most susceptible to fall-related injuries. Jumping on the bed or couch has the potential of severe injuries, such as head trauma and fractures. This is another reason nurse parents may set boundaries when jumping on beds or couches.
Nurses can offer a unique perspective on childhood safety. While some restrictions may seem overly cautious, nurse parents prioritize mitigating potential risks from occurring.
What are your thoughts on these safety precautions? Do you have any additional safety tips you utilize as a parent? Share your experiences and insights in the comments below!
References
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. (2022). Trampolines and trampoline safety. https://www.aaos.org/contentassets/1cd7f41417ec4dd4b5c4c48532183b96/1135---trampolines-and-trampoline-safety.pdf
Bulut, M., Koksal, O., Korkmaz, A., Turan, M., & Ozguc, H. (2006). Childhood falls: characteristics, outcome, and comparison of the Injury Severity Score and New Injury Severity Score. Emergency medicine journal : EMJ, 23(7), 540545. https://doi.org/10.1136/emj.2005.029439
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Drowning facts. https://www.cdc.gov/drowning/data-research/facts/index.html#:~:text=In%20the%20United%20States%3A,1
Jordan, K. C., Di Gennaro, J. L., von Saint André-von Arnim, A., & Stewart, B. T. (2022). Global trends in pediatric burn injuries and care capacity from the World Health Organization Global Burn Registry. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2022.954995
Solaiman, R. H., Navarro, S. M., Irfanullah, E., Zhang, J., Tompkins, M., & Harmon, J. (2023). Sofa and bed-related pediatric trauma injuries treated in United States emergency departments. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 68, 155160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2023.03.055
Verive, M. (2022, April 21). Pediatric single-dose fatal ingestions. Medscape. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1011108-overview#:~:text=More%20than%201%20million%20children,are%20younger%20than%206%20years.
Waltzman, D., Sarmiento, K., & Daugherty, J. (2024). Factors that may influence Americans views on when children should start playing tackle football. Journal of Athletic Training, 59(1), 2229. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0004.23
Yoong, S. Y., Ang, P. H., Chong, S.-L., Ong, Y.-K. G., Zakaria, N. D., Lee, K. P., & Pek, J. H. (2021). Common diagnoses among pediatric attendances at emergency departments. BMC Pediatrics, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-021-02646-8
About the Author:
Breann Kakacek, BSN, RN, has been a registered nurse since 2015 and a CNA prior to that for 2 years while going through the nursing program. Most of her nursing years include working in the medical ICU, cardiovascular ICU and in the OR as a circulating nurse. She has always had a passion for writing and enjoys using her nursing knowledge to create unique online content. You can learn more about her writing career and services at ghostnursewriter.com
Breann is an independent contributor to CEUfast's Nursing Blog Program. Please note that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this blog post are solely of the independent contributor and do not necessarily represent those of CEUfast. This blog post is not medical advice. Always consult with your personal healthcare provider for any health-related questions or concerns.
If you want to learn more about CEUfasts Nursing Blog Program or would like to submit a blog post for consideration, please visit https://ceufast.com/blog/submissions.
