2. Methods
This prospective research study was funded by a grant from the
Research and Development Directorate and ethical approval was
obtained from the relevant local ethics committee. Children aged
less than 16 years presenting with injuries and/or poisonings to
an Accident and Emergency department or to a minor injury unit
in the western two-thirds of the county of Cornwall (resident population
of 350,000, albeit with significant additional numbers of
summer visitors) were studied. Children presenting to minor injury
units in towns in the eastern third of Cornwall were excluded
from analysis, since children requiring Accident and Emergency or
further hospital treatment from these towns receive treatment
from hospitals in a neighbouring county.