Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
Keeping Kids Safe: Preventing Accidents and Accidental Injuries
WHO (World Health Organization) and UNICEF, proponents of child safety, have collaborated on a report that addresses the 5 leading causes of accidental injury to children:Traffic accidents, drowning, burns, falls and poisoning.
Injuries mar the lives of millions of young people and their families each year. The World Health Organization estimates that, in 2004, around 830 000 children under the age of 18 years died as a result of an unintentional injury.Recent community-based studies conducted by UNICEF, however, have suggested that the number could be much higher. Tens of millions more children are non-fatally injured and many of these require hospital treatment. For survivors, the impairment that injuries can cause and the resulting need for care and rehabilitation have far-reaching impacts on a child's prospects for health, education and social inclusion and on their parents' livelihood.
For many parents, the grief of losing a child unexpectedly can take decades to heal and for many it never does. For some families the emotional pain is even greater if simple measures could have been taken to prevent the incident.Even if the outcome is not fatal, the medical costs and the special care that is often needed for a severely injured or disabled child can put a huge financial demand on parents and cause great difficulties for families or caretakers.
There are many ways to keep children safe and prevent accidental injuries. UNICEF and WHO have made recommendations for improving Child safety including both legislative and individual recommendations.
Speed limits, comprehensive drink-driving laws, child restraint systems, vehicle-front modification, child friendly infrastructure, safer routes to school, safer play spaces and helmet wearing.
- DROWNING:
Four-sided pool fencing, personal flotation devices, barriers – such as well coverings and fencing, swimming training and supervision.
- BURNS:
Hot water tap temperature legislation, smoke alarms, non-tip lanterns and candle holders, separation of cooking area from living area, immediate first aid – "cool the burn".
- FALLS:
Playground equipment standards, baby walker modification, safety glass, window guards on tall buildings, roof railings, non-climbable banisters, supportive home visitation to identify fall hazards.
- POISONING:
Manufacture, storage and distribution of harmful substances requiring safe packaging, medication packaging, child resistant closures, safe storage of potentially harmful substances, immediate first aid.
If your child has been injured in an accident or due to someone's negligence, please contact an experienced Boston child injury attorney at Kiley Law Group for a free consultation and review of your case.
