Treatment Factors

A relatively mild burn in an adult can be very serious in a child
Bones are not mature until 18-21 years of age
Children have relatively larger tongues than adults - which can make it more difficult to clear their airway
"Growth plates" make children prone to specific types of fractures and can complicate treatment decisions for a doctor
A young sports player is more vulnerable to injury during "growth spurts" - due to lack of flexibility, reduced strength and diminished coordination, endurance and balance
Traumatic bone and joint injuries in children are frequently misdiagnosed and failure to appropriately treat these injures can lead to long-term disabilities
Children often maintain a normal blood pressure right up until their blood vessels collapse
Children are much more susceptible to hypothermia than adults