Your Child’s Safety: Preventing Falls (Rehab)
We want your child to be safe from falls after going home (discharge) from the hospital. Here is how we can partner with you to keep your child safe from falls during recovery (rehabilitation).
These things can increase your child’s risk of falls:
- An unfamiliar place.
- Weakness or feeling very tired (fatigue).
- Medicines or medical conditions that affect vision or make your child feel dizzy or sleepy.
- History of falls.
- Walking in sandals, slippery socks or shoes.
- Rushing from one place to another.
Here are some ways you can keep your child safe from falls:
- Use the devices that help with walking and balance (mobility devices) that your child’s therapist recommended.
- Clear toys and wires from your child’s path to prevent tripping.
- Put medical equipment between furniture so your child’s path is clutter-free.
- Tape rugs to the floor or hold them down with heavy furniture.
- Remind your child not to lean on towel bars in the bathroom.
- Use a nonslip rubber mat on the floor of the shower/bathtub.
- Keep the bathroom floor dry.
- Use a nightlight in the bedroom and bathroom.
- Avoid rushing. Leave plenty of time to get from one place to another.
Medical equipment your child’s team may recommend include:
- Devices to help with walking and balance (crutches, walker, cane).
- Wheelchair.
- Seat for the shower, such as a shower chair or tub bench.
- Hand held shower.
Thank you for partnering with us to prevent falls.
We welcome your questions and concerns.
Please let us know how we can best support your child and family.
Created in partnership with families and expertise from our Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered Care
© NYU Langone Health. All rights reserved. Reviewed for health literacy. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your health care provider's instructions.
Your Child’s Safety: Preventing Falls (Rehab)
We want your child to be safe from falls after going home (discharge) from the hospital. Here is how we can partner with you to keep your child safe from falls during recovery (rehabilitation).
These things can increase your child’s risk of falls:
- An unfamiliar place.
- Weakness or feeling very tired (fatigue).
- Medicines or medical conditions that affect vision or make your child feel dizzy or sleepy.
- History of falls.
- Walking in sandals, slippery socks or shoes.
- Rushing from one place to another.
Here are some ways you can keep your child safe from falls:
- Use the devices that help with walking and balance (mobility devices) that your child’s therapist recommended.
- Clear toys and wires from your child’s path to prevent tripping.
- Put medical equipment between furniture so your child’s path is clutter-free.
- Tape rugs to the floor or hold them down with heavy furniture.
- Remind your child not to lean on towel bars in the bathroom.
- Use a nonslip rubber mat on the floor of the shower/bathtub.
- Keep the bathroom floor dry.
- Use a nightlight in the bedroom and bathroom.
- Avoid rushing. Leave plenty of time to get from one place to another.
Medical equipment your child’s team may recommend include:
- Devices to help with walking and balance (crutches, walker, cane).
- Wheelchair.
- Seat for the shower, such as a shower chair or tub bench.
- Hand held shower.
Thank you for partnering with us to prevent falls.
We welcome your questions and concerns.
Please let us know how we can best support your child and family.
Created in partnership with families and expertise from our Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered Care
© NYU Langone Health. All rights reserved. Reviewed for health literacy. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your health care provider's instructions.