For many parents, having kids means that they have to watch over them closely. Whether it’s playing tag with them in the living room or toting one of them piggyback-style on their shoulders, kids are prone to head injuries and one of the most overlooked hazards is a ceiling fan. Approximately 2,300 children are treated in emergency rooms for head injuries from ceiling fans each year, according to a new study in the journal Pediatrics. The ER visits were for lacerations and concussions, mostly in children under 3. The study’s lead author, Holly Hughes Garza, said the injuries occurred when someone — a parent or guest — was tossing a child in the air or lifting them up and accidentally got their head caught by the fan blades.
Garza added that the injuries could also occur when a kid was playing on a loft or bunk bed and their head hit the fan blades, or even if they’re sitting on a couch near a ceiling fan and their head hits it as they shift their weight to reach for something on the floor. Parents can help keep kids safe by making sure they’re mindful of the location and positioning of any furniture in their room, keeping them away from any areas with a ceiling fan and installing a safety guard on any fan that’s especially close to the floor.
Creating a safe environment for children also involves providing them with a space that expresses their unique personalities. Fans made specifically for kids come in a wide variety of fun and imaginative designs that match or complement a room’s decor. For example, baby room ceiling fans can resemble airplane propellers while teenagers’ fans might have sports-themed pictures on their blades and light fixtures.