Ten Most Common Injuries to Australian Children
The 10 most common injuries to children aged 0 - 14, in Australia, are listed
below with suggestions of websites to visit for further information.
For statistical information regarding these injuries, contact the
organisations listed at the bottom of this page.
The 10 most common injuries to Australian children are:
1. As Car Passengers
2. As Pedestrians
3. Drowning
4. House Fires
5. Falls
6. Nursery Furniture
7. Scalds
8. Poisoning
9. Bicycles
10. In-line Skates and Skateboards
THE ISSUE:
Children who are not properly using restraints are five times more
likely to be killed or injured in an accident.
EXAMPLES OF SAFER PRACTICES:
Every child should be in an appropriate child restraint (for their weight and height) on every trip, no matter
where to, or how short the trip is.
Restraints must be properly installed and used - we recommend you use an RTA Authorised Fitting Station to do this. To find one near you ring the RTA Enquiry Line on 13 22 13.
For more information on child passenger safety visit the following websites:
Passenger safety section of Kidsafe NSW website
Roads and Traffic Authority
NRMA
THE ISSUE:
Children need time to develop a road sense and to learn to obey road
rules.
EXAMPLES OF SAFER PRACTICES:
Provide a safe place for children to play, away from driveways and
traffic.
Always hold your childs' hand in the road traffic environment until
the child is 8 years of age.
Always walk with your child in the road traffic environment until
the child is 10 years of age.
Talk with your child about road safety.
For more information on child pedestrian safety visit the following websites:
Pedestrian safety section of Kidsafe NSW website
Driveway safety section of Kidsafe NSW website
Early Childhood Road Safety Education Program (ECRSEP)
Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA)
Motor Accidents Authority (MAA)
THE ISSUE:
Drowning is the single biggest danger to children under five years
of age.
Water is a silent killer.
EXAMPLES OF SAFER PRACTICES:
Always supervise children when around water - this includes pools,
baths, fish ponds, buckets of water, toilets - a child can drown in
5cm of water.
Stay with and supervise young children when they are in the bath -
if the phone rings, let it ring out or take your child with you to
answer it.
For more information on drowning visit the following websites:
The Royal Lifesaving Society Australia
AUSTSWIM NSW
St John Ambulance Australia
THE ISSUE:
The major risk with house fires is that young children may be overcome
by smoke.
EXAMPLES OF SAFER PRACTICES:
Install smoke alarms - fire brigades can advise on the location for
their installation.
Check the batteries in alarms at the beginning and end of daylight saving each year.
Reinforce the messages "Stop, drop, roll".
For more information on fire safety visit the following website:
NSW Fire Brigades
THE ISSUE:
Falls are the single largest cause of child injury.
EXAMPLES OF SAFER PRACTICES:
Install safety rails or guards for steps, stairs and balconies.
Ensure railing complies to Australian Standards
Put "soft fall" material under play equipment.
Ensure everyone using a bicycle wears a helmet.
For more information on falls visit the following websites:
Falls prevention section of Kidsafe NSW website
Playground safety section of Kidsafe NSW website
Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA)
Early Childhood Road Safety Education Program (ECRSEP)
THE ISSUE:
Nursery furniture is a common cause of injury in children under 2
- especially from falls.
EXAMPLES OF SAFER PRACTICES:
Look for the Australian Standards sticker and / or that products have
recommended safety features.
Always use the harness in prams and highchairs - if there is not one,
buy a five-point harness separately.
Remember high chairs are always safer when lower to the ground.
For more information on nursery furniture visit the following websites:
Sids and Kids Online
Standards Australia
THE ISSUE:
Scalds are a major cause of long term injury to children.
Remember "hot water burns like fire".
EXAMPLES OF SAFE PRACTICES:
Keep cups of tea and coffee well out of reach of children - for example,
place hot drinks in the middle of the table, not on the edge of the
table.
Water from the hot tap that is over 50 degrees can scald and burn within seconds.
Check the hot water delivery temperature into your home is below 50
degrees Celsius at all outlets. If it is not, there are options to
do this - a registered plumber can tell you how.
For more information on scalds and burns visit the following websites:
Burns and scalds prevention section of Kidsafe NSW website
Kids Health
St John Ambulance Australia
8. Poisoning
THE ISSUE:
Poisoning is still one of the most common hazards for young children.
EXAMPLES OF SAFER PRACTICES:
Medicines, household cleaners and products must be kept out of sight
and out of reach - preferably in child-resistant cupboards or under
lock and key.
Dispose of old medicines responsibly - talk to your local chemist
for information about disposal of these products.
For more information about poisoning visit the following websites:
Prevention of poisoning section of Kidsafe NSW website
Return Unwanted Medicines (RUM)
St John Ambulance Australia
9. Bicycles
THE ISSUE:
Simply falling off bicycles is the major cause of serious injury related
to bicycles.
EXAMPLES OF SAFER PRACTICES:
Always ensure your child wears a helmet - "if you have an accident
you can buy a new helmet, you can't buy a new brain!"
Teach children to ride safely and show them safe places to practice.
Set rules for where they can ride.
For more information about bicycles visit the following websites:
Bicycle safety section of Kidsafe NSW website
Roads and Traffic Authority
Early Childhood Road Safety Education Program (ECRSEP)
10. In-Line Skates & Skateboards
THE ISSUE:
Most injuries from skateboards result from falls.
EXAMPLES OF SAFER PRACTICES:
Helmets, arm and knee guards are necessities - buy the whole present,
not just the skates!
Ensure learners are not at risk - show learners safe places to practice
and help them learn to start and stop safely. Set rules for where
they skate.
Ensure children are dressed appropriately - for example, sensible
foot wear when skateboarding.
For more information about in-line skates and skateboards visit the following websites:
Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA)
Early Childhood Road Safety Education Program (ECRSEP)
A Child Safety Fact Folder has been developed by Kidsafe NSW and contains 20 fact sheets addressing these and other child safety issues. This resource can be purchased through the Kidsafe Publications - Mail Order Form.
For further statistical information the following
sites may be of use…
National Injury
Surveillance Unit
NSW
Health - Injury Prevention
Child
Death Review Team
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare - including the 'Australia's Children:
Their Health and Wellbeing 2002' report.
NSW Injury Risk Management
Research Centre