Accidents to Children
Accidental injuries are a major health problem throughout the United Kingdom. They are one of the most common cause of death in children over one year of age. Every year they leave many thousands permanently disabled or disfigured.
More than two million children under the age of 15 experience accidents in and around the home every year, for which they are taken to accident and emergency units. Many more are treated by GPs and by parents and carers. On average 62 children under the age of five died as a result of an accident and over 76.000 under the age of 14 are admitted for treatment of which over 40% are under 5 years of age.
Those most at risk from a home accident are the 0-4 years age group. Falls account for the majority of non-fatal accidents while the highest numbers of deaths are due to fire. Most of these accidents are preventable through increased awareness, improvements in the home environment and greater product safety.
Please click on the topic which interests you:
• What injuries occur?
• Where do accidents happen?
• When do accidents happen?
• Cost of children's accidents
• Who is at risk?
• Why do children have accidents?
• Safety and child development
• Preventing accidents to children
• Strangulation including blind cords
• Falls
• Fires
• Scalds and burns
• Glass-related accidents
• Poisoning
• Suffocating and choking
• Drowning