Citation

Oates K. Acta Paediatr. 2023; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/apa.17063

PMID

38095208

Abstract

In 2019-2020, there were approximately 62 100 hospitalised injury cases among Australian children aged 0-14, a rate of 1300 per 100 000 children.1 Boys were 1.5 times more likely to be hospitalised for injury than girls. Falls accounted for close to half (46%) of hospitalised childhood injury cases and were the most common reason for injury hospitalisation of children across all age groups. Although injury rates leading to hospitalisation of children have been relatively stable between 2007-2008 and 2016-2017, death rates from childhood injury are decreasing. Between 2004-2006 and 2015-2017, rates fell from 6.2 to 4.1 deaths per 100 000 children. The rate for boys was consistently higher than for girls, fluctuating between 1.2 and 1.6 times as high.1

This Perspective will focus on the three main causes of non-health-related death in Australian children aged 0-14: land transport accidents (29%), accidental drowning (18%) and assault (11%).1 It will then look at some suggestions to improve children's safety. The main sources of data used include scholarly articles, online resources such as Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the Australian Bureau of Statistics and data from recognised societies, such as the Royal Lifesaving Society, Australia. Some of the available databases use different age cut-offs and others are several years behind the current year.

LAND TRANSPORT ACCIDENTS
DROWNING
HOMICIDE AND ABUSE

FIVE SUGGESTIONS

In addition to the obvious one of ensuring that children who missed out on swimming lessons during the COVID-19 pandemic, here 5 suggestions to reduce fatal injuries and improve child safety.

While the overall trends, apart from drowning in the 5-14-year age group are encouraging, there is much room for improvement. Health practitioners can play a crucial role in reducing fatal and non-fatal injuries in children by making safety a routine part of history taking, raising the topic at professional meetings, regularly increasing family awareness and lobbying for improvements that will make life safer for our children.

Language: en