Injuries are both predictable and preventable. Accidents don’t just happen. Australian statistics indicate that injury is one of the most common causes of death in people aged 1-44 years. The potential for injury to children is high due to their lack of experience and inclination to engage in high risk activities.
Prevention of Child Injuries
The keys to preventing child injuries are:
Identifying hazards - identifying the underlying factors in injuries
Identifying a strategy - this might be:
- Removing the hazard, eg taking away unsafe play equipment
- Isolate the hazard, eg putting medicines in a child resistant cupboard
- Introducing safety equipment, eg fitting tables with safety straps
- Changing organisational practices, eg supervising children on play equipment
- Being prepared, eg with first aid training
Making changes – injuries won't change until environment and practices do
Specific measures: safety checks should start with playground equipment. Stable furniture, checks on nursery furniture, mechanisms to prevent finger jam injury, protocols on medicine use and storage are all likely to reduce injury.
Education in non-violent settlement of disputes, and first aid training of staff will also help.
National Childcare Accreditation Guidelines include - sun safety, dangerous products (Principle #41), safe equipment (Principle #42), emergency and accident procedures (#44 and #45)
Reference:Routley, Virginia. (Sep 1993). Injuries in Child Care Settings. Hazard. 5-11, Victorian Injury Surveillance System.
Child Safety Checklist
Is a first aid kit readily available?
Are staff regularly made aware of its location?
Are the kits periodically checked and their contents updated?
Is there a system for the reporting of injuries and high potential incidents?
How well are injury and incident records maintained?
Whose responsibility is it to maintain the injury and incident records?
Is accident reporting promoted to staff?
Does the childcare centre/facility have a safety policy?
Does the safety policy address maintenance issues, playground equipment, non-toxic plants, safe behaviour, first aid and sport?
Has an occupational health and safety audit been conducted recently? What problems (if any) were identified? Were these problems rectified or any recommendations acted upon? Is an occupational health and safety audit conducted on a regular basis?
The Kidsafe website provides child safety information for parents, carers and children. Kidsafe also have available fact sheets on the changing needs and safety issues for different age groups ranging from birth to age five.
For further information regarding the management of child injury contact your local Doctor. For further information regarding the prevention of child injury contact your local community health nurse.
Injuries are both predictable and preventable. Accidents don’t just happen. Australian statistics indicate that injury is one of the most common causes of death in people aged 1-44 years. The potential for injury to children is high due to their lack of experience and inclination to engage in high risk activities.
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