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The Daily Insight

What to watch for after falling down stairs?

Author

John Thompson

Published Feb 13, 2026

Seek medical help immediately, if someone is experiencing a severe headache, nausea and vomiting, or confusion. Some injuries may cause severe bleeding that won’t stop after at least 15 minutes of pressure or there may be an obvious fracture. These conditions are considered emergencies.

What to watch for after a child falls?

Changes to watch for include inconsolable crying or fussiness, vomiting more than once, balancing difficulties when sitting or walking, and being unresponsive. If your child is exhibiting any of these symptoms, or has any significant swelling over the site of the injury, you should take them to the doctor right away.

How common is it for kids to fall down stairs?

Stair Falls Are Common That worked out to about 100,000 children every year. Of those stair falls, around 3 percent of the kids were hospitalized. Which is pretty amazing considering 75 percent suffered injuries to their head and neck.

How do you know if your baby is OK after a fall?

If your child fell on their back or neck, or hit their head, we suggest that you seek emergency pediatric trauma care if they have any of the following symptoms: Severe neck or back pain. Inability to move a body part. Weakness, tingling, or numbness in chest, arms or legs.

When should you see a doctor after a fall?

If you experience dizziness, nausea, vomiting or confusion following a head injury, visit your nearest emergency room right away to be evaluated. If you have a lump or bump and mild headache, you can be evaluated at your local urgent care.

When should you go to the hospital after a fall?

Emerman says patients who’ve suffered a head injury should visit the Emergency Department immediately if they: Lost consciousness or became confused/disoriented after they were injured. Suffered the injury at a high speed (car or bike accident, a steep fall, etc.) Are vomiting or feel nauseated.

What should I do if my child falls down the stairs?

Here’s what else you might do in the immediate aftermath of a non-emergency fall: Call your doctor; they may or may not ask you to bring your baby in, but you should check in soon after a fall for advice. Clean any cuts or scrapes with soap and water. Apply an anti-bacterial cream and bandages to open wounds or cuts.

What to do if toddler falls and hits head?

If your baby is showing any of these symptoms after experiencing an injury to their head, call 911 or take them to the nearest emergency room immediately:

  1. uncontrolled bleeding from a cut.
  2. a dent or bulging soft spot on the skull.
  3. excessive bruising and/or swelling.
  4. vomiting more than once.

What to do if you fall down the stairs alone?

If you fall and you are alone in the home, there are a few things you can do: If you are conscious, but alone and unable to reach or use your phone, call out loudly for help. If possible, slap the stairs or floor with a shoe or otherwise make as much noise as you can. You should also try to get to a safe, comfortable space to wait for help.

What are the risks of falling down stairs?

Among the biggest risks associated with falling down the stairs are: 1 head injuries, including concussions 2 back and spinal cord injuries 3 hip fractures and other broken bones 4 neck injuries 5 cuts and bruises More …

When to go to the ER after falling down the stairs?

If your fall down the stairs didn’t result in any serious injuries that required a visit to the emergency room, there may still be reasons to follow up with a doctor the next day or in the days or weeks after the incident.

What happens if you fall down the stairs and hurt your butt?

A herniated disc happens when one or more of the cushions in between your vertebrae tears or otherwise allows the inner portion of your disk to slip out. That’s why this injury is sometimes called a slipped disk. A fall down the stairs in which you land hard on your buttocks can result in a painful butt bruise.