Child falls and home injuries: Sharjah issues urgent safety warning

Sharjah: Many of the dangers threatening children's safety are hidden in the places families consider safest — their homes, residential buildings and play areas, according to the Child Safety Organisation (CSO), an affiliate of the Sharjah Family and Community Council.

In a fresh awareness campaign focusing on falls and unintentional injuries, the organisation urged parents and caregivers to conduct regular safety checks of the environments where children live, play and move, stressing that child safety should be a daily priority rather than a concern addressed only after an accident occurs.

The warning comes as international figures continue to highlight the scale of the issue. The organisation noted that unintentional injuries — including falls, drowning, burns, poisoning and road traffic accidents — remain among the leading causes of death and injury among children worldwide. Global estimates indicate that more than 1,600 children and adolescents under the age of 19 die every day from injuries, many of which are preventable. The World Health Organisation also classifies falls among the leading causes of serious injury and injury-related deaths among children.

According to the organisation, many childhood accidents stem not from unusual dangers but from ordinary features that families encounter every day. A window, balcony, staircase, chair or piece of furniture may appear harmless to adults, but for a child it can become an invitation to climb, explore or reach beyond safe limits before they are able to recognise danger or understand the consequences of their actions.

The CSO explained that the early years of childhood are characterised by rapid physical development and an increasing desire to explore the world. However, children's ability to assess risks remains limited. Driven by curiosity, trust and a natural urge to learn through experience, young children frequently test their surroundings, making some homes and shared residential spaces far more hazardous than adults may realise.