Dangerous Holidays: How to Protect Your Child from Injuries at Home and Outdoors

      June 1, 2026 08:00 SocietyChild trauma remains one of the most pressing issues, especially during school holidays. During this time, children have more free time, are often outside, and frequently remain without constant adult supervision.

      Pediatric orthopedic surgeon Alexander Yefinov explained why injuries occur and how to prevent them.

      Why children get injured

      According to the specialist, despite the variety of injuries, the reasons are often the same. It concerns shortcomings in organizing a safe environment, inattentiveness or negligence of adults, as well as risky behavior by the children themselves during play, sports, or daily activities.

      Age-related characteristics also play a role. Curiosity, high mobility, emotionality, and lack of life experience hinder a child from objectively assessing danger. As a result, they may not realize the possible consequences of their actions.

      What prevention involves

      The main task of adults is to foresee potential risks in advance and minimize them. The work of parents, as the doctor notes, is built on two directions: eliminating dangerous situations and regularly teaching the child the rules of safe behavior.

      At the same time, it is important not to instill fear or timidity in the child, but to explain that proper behavior helps avoid trouble. One should not scare—one must teach, the specialist emphasized.

      What dangers lurk at home

      The structure of child trauma has remained virtually unchanged over the past 20-30 years. Boys get injured about twice as often as girls.

      Household injuries are in first place—they account for 50-60% of all cases. Among children under seven years old, this figure reaches about 80%.

      In everyday life, children most often encounter burns, falls, choking on small objects, poisoning, and electric shock.

      Burns occur from contact with stoves, irons, boiling water, or steam. They are considered the most common type of injury and can lead to scarring and even fatal outcomes. To reduce the risk, it is important not to allow the child near sources of fire, to remove matches and lighters, and to place the stove out of reach.

      Falls from furniture and windows often result in bruises and fractures. Windows with mosquito nets are particularly dangerous: a child can fall out along with them. Parents should not leave windows open without supervision, rely on nets as protection, or place furniture near the windowsill. It is also recommended to use blinds without dangling cords to eliminate the risk of strangulation.

      Small children can swallow coins, buttons, and other small objects. Household chemicals and adult medications—pesticides, cleaning agents, and medications—must be stored in closed and labeled places.

      To prevent electric shock, outlets should be equipped with special plugs, and the condition of electrical appliances should be monitored.

      What risks exist outside

      Swings pose a danger: jumping from them often results in injuries, and when falling, it is important to crawl away immediately. Cuts from glass or knives are also common, so sharp objects should be kept out of children's reach.

      On the road, according to the doctor, a standing car poses a particular threat—because of it, a child may unexpectedly run out in front of the wheels. Children need to be taught to stop before entering the roadway, look both ways, walk on the sidewalk facing oncoming traffic, and always hold an adult's hand. Child seats must be used in cars.

      When riding bicycles and rollerblades, helmets, knee pads, and skills for safe falling are mandatory.

      The specialist pays special attention to water safety. A child should never be left unattended, even for a minute: a tragedy can occur even in a shallow puddle in less than two minutes. The NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+.