Web Center, Author at Growing Up Healthy

Keeping Kids Safe Around Windows

May 16, 2013By Joshua Ross, MD, FAAP

With the warmer weather finally here, chances are you might not think twice about opening the windows in your house. If you have small children, however, it’s important to consider their safety.

Unintentional falls are the number one cause of injuries for children. According to 2011 statistics, approximately 3,300 children younger than age 5 suffer injuries due to falls from a window, while 127 are killed as a result of the fall. The majority of these accidents happen at home. So what can parents do to help keep their kids safe?

Are there “safe” fireworks?

June 27, 2011By Joshua Ross, MD, FAAP

One of my favorite memories as a child was staying up late to watch the 4th of July fireworks display. Now, as a father, I get to re-experience these memories through my children’s eyes. Unfortunately, as a pediatric emergency medicine physician, I also see the darker side of this American tradition.

Each year there are thousands of emergency department visits for fireworks related injuries in the United States. Almost all are due to private use (not public displays) and kids, especially between the ages of 10-14 years old, are commonly injured. The majority of injuries are burns to the hands and face and eye injuries; however, every year there are sadly several deaths due to fireworks.