With all the running, climbing, and exploring kids do, it's no surprise that falls are common. Although many result in mild bumps, cuts, and bruises, some can cause serious injuries that need immediate medical attention. What to Do Call 911 for emergency help and do not move your child if he or she: may have seriously injured the head, neck, back, hipbones, or thighs is unconscious has trouble breathing isn't breathing (start CPR if you know how to do so) has a seizure If your child isn't vomiting and doesn't have any of the symptoms above: Comfort your child and look for any injuries. Place a cold compress or ice pack on any bumps or bruises. Give acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain if your child is alert. Let your child rest, as needed, for the next few hours. Watch your child closely for the next 24 hours for any unusual symptoms or behavior. Get Medical Care If Your Child: becomes very sleepy or is difficult to wake up becomes easily annoyed or upset and cannot be comforted vomits more than once complains of head, neck, or back pain complains of increasing pain anywhere is not walking normally does not seem to be focusing his or her eyes normally has any behavior or symptoms that worry you Think Prevention! Never leave infants and young children on a bed or any other furniture unsupervised. Never put an infant in a baby seat on top of a counter or other high surface. Childproof against falls with gates and don't use walkers. Always strap young kids into high chairs, changing tables, shopping carts, and strollers. Make sure kids always wear helmets when biking, skating, and using skateboards or scooters. Back to Articles Related Articles Household Safety Checklists Young kids love to explore their homes, but are unaware of the potential dangers. Learn how to protect them with our handy household safety checklists. Read More A to Z: Head Injury Learn more about head injuries (head trauma). Read More Household Safety: Preventing Injuries From Falling, Climbing, and Grabbing Here's how to help protect kids from a dangerous fall or a tumble into a sharp edge in your home. Read More Dealing With Cuts Find out how to handle minor cuts at home - and when to get medical care for a more serious injury. Read More Walls & Floors, Doors & Windows, Furniture, Stairways: Household Safety Checklist Use these checklists to make a safety check of your home, including your walls, floors, furniture, doors, windows, and stairways. You should answer "yes" to all of these questions. Read More First Aid: Broken Bones A broken bone needs emergency medical care. Here's what to do if you think your child just broke a bone. Read More Head Injuries Head injuries can be external or internal. Learn more about both kinds, how to prevent them, and what to do if your child is injured. Read More Preventing Children's Sports Injuries Participation in sports can teach kids sportsmanship and discipline. But sports also carry the potential for injury. Here's how to protect your kids. Read More Concussions In a concussion, the brain shifts inside the skull. This can cause a sudden - but usually temporary - disruption in a person's ability to function properly and feel well. Here's what to do if you suspect a concussion. Read More Concussions Concussions are serious injuries that can be even more serious if kids don't get the time and rest needed to heal them completely. Read More Broken Bones Many kids will have a broken bone at some point. Here's what to expect. Read More Childproofing and Preventing Household Accidents You might think of babies and toddlers when you hear the words "babyproofing" or "childproofing," but unintentional injury is the leading cause of death in kids 14 and under. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.