1. Preventing Childhood Injury Your name, etc. www.tinyurl.com\avonsafe

2. Our injury burden Deaths Emergency admissions Attendances at emergency departments Minor injuries treated at Health Centres and GP surgeries or at home References Injury pyramid: BMA (2001) Injury Prevention Very minor (often untreated) injuries Low numbers High numbers High severity Lower severity

3. “Injuries do not occur by chance. They are largely preventable, non-random events, and not “accidents”. Certain groups of people with certain characteristics are more likely to be injured. By studying how injuries vary within a population, we can begin to gain an understanding of the factors that lead to injury, and how the risk of injury may be reduced”. Injury Prevention, British Medical Association, 2001

4. ‘Accidents’ waiting to happen

7. “....preventable... not “accidents” Four-year-old dies after a tragic accident “(Exodus Tyson’s) seven-year-old brother found her hanging from a cord which was dangling from a treadmill in their home in Phoenix, Arizona”. Brothers meet tragic end on Snowdon “They died after slipping and falling up to 300m from an accident blackspot at a craggy area on the mountain's west side, Clogwyn Coch, at the weekend”. Ealing boy dies after air rifle tragedy He died in a “tragic accident”, after being left playing with other 10 year olds and a loaded air rifle. Tragic accident as farmer crushed by sheepdog in tractor “Harry Emslie, 67, left the border collie in the cab of a telescopic loader with the engine still running - and the handbrake off”. No cause? Unexpected? “Accident: an unforeseen event or one without an apparent cause” Collins English Dictionary

8. Group activity What caused these injuries? Were they predictable? What would have prevented them?

9. “...certain groups of people are more likely to be injured....” Children of poor families have more injuries Injury death rates in children 0-15 by social class. (BMA, 2001.) Social Class 1 (Richer)........Social Class 5 (Poorer)

10. “...certain groups of people...” Children... of single parents of alcohol and drug users living in rented accommodation of unemployed parents.....are at higher risk of injury.

11. Mapping injury rate shows link to deprivation in Bristol

12. Families and neighbourhoods Injury risk is a factor of both neighbourhood characteristics and domestic circumstances

13. “.....understanding the factors that lead to injury”

14. Group activity Describe the family with the highest risk of serious childhood injury. List the factors you would expect to see in the worst case scenario, considering the family, their home, neighbourhood and the public services they use.

15. “...reducing risk”. Working with partners. Services Retailers Daycare providers Trading standards Fire and Rescue Services Housing providers Health services A multitude of other local authority services Environment / neighbourhood Road Safety Economic opportunity Safe play areas Injury Prevention is a partnership activity

16. “...reducing risk”. Working with families. Improve Supervision/reduce social isolation “Childproofing” - Home improvements Raise Awareness of injury hazards Routines and rules (and reminders and repetition!)

17. Most frequent childhood (under 5’s) injuries Falls Accidental poisoning (Including eating small objects) Burns and scalds

18. Burns and scalds – Causes 1.Hot drinks 2.Hot food 3.Bathwater 4.Hair straighteners / irons Hot water burns like fire

19. Burns and Scalds - Prevention Raise awareness No. 1 cause = Hot drinks. Create routines and rules Keep children and hot drinks apart. Childproofing Use heat resistant bags for hair straighteners. Most burns and scalds happen in the kitchen. Use a playpen in kitchens, or keep children out.

20. Accidental Poisoning - Causes 1. Common painkillers and cold remedies are the single biggest cause of serious childhood poisoning. 2. Things not put away in their safe place. 3. Batteries, coins, small toys, pins, keys and other small objects are left where small children can reach them.

21. Accidental Poisoning - Prevention Safe storage, straight away

22. Accidental Poisoning - Prevention Tidy up. Lock away above head height. (Treat all pills, medicines, liquid painkillers and cold remedies like prescription medicines). Straight away. Health visitors in Nottingham found poisoning happens when things are left out because they are still in use, or “will be put away later”).

23. Home Fire Safety Avon Fire and Rescue – Free Home Fire Safety Checks Tel: 0117 9262061

24. Falls in under 5’s - Causes Stairs and steps Falling from furniture (sofas) Falling from beds when having nappies changed Baby walkers Climbing routes

25. Falls in under 5’s - Prevention Childproofing Use stair gates, break climbing routes by moving furniture Rules No (stair) climbing without a parent Supervision Use the children’s centre parents and toddler groups or friends - so you can take a break!

26. Low number / high profile injuries Firework injuries – Follow the Firework Code Blind cord strangulation – Keep cords, chains, and tapes and similar out of the reach of children. Drowning – Never leave babies alone in the bathroom. Teach children to swim.

27. Group activity What can we do to reduce injury? What injury will you focus on? Who will you target? Where? How will you reach the target group? What will you do? How will you monitor / evaluate?

28. Further information Avonsafe www.tinyurl.com\avonsafe RoSPA www.rospa.com Child Accident Prevention Trust www.capt.org.uk