Question

Review the most common causes of injury and death in children of various ages. Choose an age group (infant, toddler, preschool-aged, school-aged, adolescent), and develop a teaching plan about ways to avoid the hazards. Would you address the parent or child with your teaching plan?

Answer 1

CAUSES OF INJURY AND DEATH IN CHILDREN

• Injury is the leading cause of death in children and young adults. Approximately 12,000 children and young adults, ages 1 (infant) to 19 years, (adolescent) die from unintentional injuries each year.
• Falls are the leading cause of nonfatal injury for children.Children ages 19 and under account for about 8,000 fall-related visits to hospital emergency rooms every day.
• Each year about 100 children are killed and 254,000 are injured as a result of bicycle-related accidents.
• Each year, about 2,000 children ages 14 and under die as a result of a home injury. Unintentional home injury deaths to children are caused primarily by fire and burns, suffocation, drowning, firearms, falls, choking, and poisoning.
• Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 1 to 4. children can drown in as little as one inch of water.
• Airway obstruction injury (suffocation) is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among infants under age 1.

TEACHING PLAN TO AVOID THE HAZARDS

Preventing falls :-

• Remove tripping hazards from the floor, such as toys, rugs and electrical cords. Pad sharp corners of benches and tables or remove them from the play area.
• Never leave a baby unsupervised on a change table
• Always use a full-body (five-point) safety harness in prams, strollers, high chairs and shopping trolleys.
• Don’t allow a child to walk or run while carrying sharp objects such as scissors.
• Use a safety gate at the top and bottom of stairs.
• Put non-skid rubber mats in the bath and shower.
• Make sure swings, slides and climbing equipment have soft fall material underneath.
• Keep furniture away from windows.
• Install window locks to prevent windows from opening wide enough for a child to fit through.

Preventing drowning :-

• Never leave your child alone in the bath. Children can drown quickly and silently in a few centimetres of water.
• Make sure children are in constant visual eye contact and within arm’s reach of an adult at all times when in and around water.
• Empty water from the bath and from buckets and wading pools immediately after use.
• Teach your child to swim.

Preventing burns:-

• All homes must have working smoke alarms installed.
• Lock matches, cigarette lighters and flammable liquids away and out of reach of children.
• Keep a fire blanket and a dry powder extinguisher in the kitchen, and make sure you know how to use them.
• Install a safety switch to prevent electrocution.
• Prepare a home fire escape plan and practise it with all the family.
• Keep children away from hot foods and liquids.
• Teach your child that if their clothing catches fire they should
  • stop running
  • drop to the floor
  • cover their face with their hands
  • roll on the floor to put the fire out.

Preventing poisoning:-

• Keep all medicines and household products out of the reach and out of sight of children.
• Put all chemicals, medicines and cleaning products away immediately after use.
• Store medicines and dangerous household products in cabinets or cupboards with a child-resistant lock
• Only remove a medicine from its packaging when you are just about to take or administer it – do not leave medicines unattended.
• Read warning labels and directions for use carefully.
• Leave medicines and chemicals in their original containers – do not transfer them into other containers such as drink bottles.
• Avoid taking medicines in front of children. Children tend to imitate adults.
• Remove or prevent access to poisonous plants in your garden or around the house.
• Teach your children never to pick up or touch any insects they find in the garden (such as bees, wasps or spiders)..

Preventing choking and harm caused by swallowing objects:-

• Be aware of foods that children can choke on, such as lollies, apple, meat and nuts.
• Do not give your child objects smaller than a 20 cent coin.
• Be mindful of other household items which can pose a choking hazard including pen tops, hair ties, batteries and coins.
• Encourage children to sit calmly and not eat their meal too quickly.
• Check toys regularly for any small parts that can become a choking hazard.