II. Epidemiology
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Incidence of Unintentional Childhood Injury in U.S.
- Estimated non-fatal injuries per year: >20 million
- Required medical attention (2009): 8 Million
- Hospitalizations (2009): 132,000
- Fatal unintentional injuries per year: >11,000
- Most common cause of childhood deaths in U.S. (40%)
III. Causes: Serious unintentional injury
- Non-fatal injuries requiring hospitalization
- Falls (33% of injuries)
- Infant Walkers, stairs, out of windows
- Contact Injury (23% of injuries)
- Laceration or skin punctures (6% of injuries)
- Motor Vehicle Accidents (5% of injuries)
- Bites or stings (4% of injuries)
- Bicycle accidents (4% of injuries)
- Poisonings
- Scald burns
- Pedestrian accidents
- Falls (33% of injuries)
- Fatal injuries overall
- Motor Vehicle Accidents (58% of deaths)
- Represents 33% of toddler deaths
- In 2008, of 4748 fatalaties in under age 21 years, 79% involved age 16-20 year olds
- Drowning (11% of deaths)
- Represents 25% of toddler deaths
- Poisoning (8% of deaths)
- Fire or Burn Injury (6% of deaths)
- Suffocation (4% of deaths)
- SIDS, sleep surface related in infants
- Motor Vehicle Accidents (58% of deaths)
- Fatal injuries in Infants
- Suffocation (75% of deaths)
- Motor Vehicle Accidents (10% of deaths)
- Drowning (4% of deaths)
- Fire or Burn Injury (3% of deaths)
- Falls (2% of deaths)
- Poisonings (2% of deaths)
IV. Prevention
- See Child Safety Seat
- See Gun Safety
- See Pet Safety
- See Drowning
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General
- Never leave children unattended in a vehicle
- Infants
- See SIDS for prevention
- See Crib Safety
- See Child Safety Seat
- Use window guards and safety gates
- Do not use Infant Walkers
- Remove cords and other Strangulation hazards around the crib
- Toddlers
- See Child Safety Seat
- Prevent Drownings
- Fencing should completely surround all pools
- Consider all water bodies a risk
- Do not leave age under 3 years unattended
- Risks: Ponds, streams, buckets, kiddie pools
- Prevent Burn Injury
- Set all hot water heaters to maximum of 130 degrees
- Matches should be stored out of reach
- Talk about smoke alarm with child
- Confirm all smoke detectors are operational and recheck on a schedule
- Practice fire escape plan
- Avoid smoking within the home
- Prevent Poisonings
- Prevent falls
- Avoid bunk beds until 6 years old or older
- Stairs should be carpeted
- School age children
- Prevent Drownings
- Teach children how to swim starting at age 4 years old or older
- Wear U.S. Coast Guard approved personal floatation devices during all boating activities
- Use fences that isolate swimming pool from other areas of yard
- Adults should be in the pool and within reach of their children
- Adults should learn CPR and start Resuscitation without delay in case of Drowning
- Prevent Motor Vehicle Accident injuries
- See Child Safety Seat and Seat Belts
- Do not ride in cargo area of pickup truck
- No off-road vehicles or lawn mower use <16 years old
- Children under age 13 years should not ride in the front seat
- Use protective gear for activities
- Bicycle helmets
- Check bikes regularly for loose parts and working brakes
- Protective gear in Downhill Skiing, snow boarding
- Protective gear in skateboarding and Inline Skating
- Prevent Drownings
- Adolescents
- See Adolescent History
- Gun Safety
- Guns should be stored unloaded and in locked locations separate from ammunition
- Prevent Motor Vehicle Accident injuries
- Wear Seat Belts always
- No instant messaging (texting) or other distracting activity while driving (parents should model this)
- Risks: Speeding, tailgating, instant messaging and nighttime driving
- Sport Safety
- See Head Injury in Sports
- Helmets when biking, riding motorized scooters, Skiing and snow boarding
- Elbow and wrist pads when skate boarding, Inline Skating