Preventing Childhood Injuries

Child injuries are largely absent from child survival initiatives presently on the global agenda. Through this report, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund and many partners have set out to elevate child injury to a priority for the global public health and development communities. It should be seen as a complement to the UN Secretary-General's study on violence against children released in late 2006 (that report addressed violence-related or intentional injuries). Both reports suggest that child injury and violence prevention programs need to be integrated into child survival and other broad strategies focused on improving the lives of children. Evidence demonstrates the dramatic successes in child injury prevention in countries which have made a concerted effort. These results make a case for increasing investments in human resources and institutional capacities. Implementing proven interventions could save more than a thousand children's lives a day.--p. vii.

Printed Edition of the Special Issue Published in IJERPH

Everyone who has children knows just how easily they can get hurt. Each year, for example, approximately 9,000 infants suffer injuries related to their high chairs. Thousands more are poisoned by common household substances. In total, more than 25 million children are injured annually, and more than 12,000 kids under the age of 14 succumb to their injuries. What makes these incidents even more tragic is that they can be prevented--if only parents knew how. Well, now they will. Written by an emergency physician, Child Safe is a practical parenting book that will help keep babies and young children out of trouble. It will help parents recognize the dangers to kids and provide concrete ways of preventing specific injuries. Child Safe is the most complete, organized, and parent-friendly child-safety book ever written for the general public. It addresses the most pressing safety issues from birth to age 14, issues that change dramatically as a child grows up. This invaluable guide for parents, grandparents, teachers, childcare workers, and baby-sitters has the information to prevent millions of childhood injuries. Dr. Mark Brandenburg, with his years of experience, shows how to keep your "child safe."

Health Behavior, Education, & Promotion

Injuries are a leading cause of death and disability in children. This report presents evidence on how they can be prevented and calls for greater commitment and action from policy-makers and practitioners to decrease the burden. Every year, unintentional injuries kill nearly 42,000 children and young people under the age of 20 in the WHO European Region. Injuries are the leading cause of death among those aged 5-19 years, and 5 out of 6 of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Irrespective of country income, the burden falls disproportionately on children from the most disadvantaged groups. The leading types of unintentional injuries are road traffic injuries, drowning, poisoning, burns and falls. All injury types have similar main causes and socioeconomic and environmental determinants. Children are particularly vulnerable to injuries and need special consideration to safeguard their rights to health and safe environments, free from injury. This report, companion to the World Report on Child Injury Prevention, presents the evidence on both the great potential for injury prevention and the effectiveness and value for money of measures already in use in European countries with low injury mortality. It shows why health systems and particularly programs for child health throughout the WHO European Region should give priority to preventing and controlling child injury.

This book is a clinical guide to the prevention and management of traumatic dental injuries, including crown and root fractures and luxation injuries, in children of all ages. Readers will find clear descriptions of the challenges posed by the pediatric population, the evaluation of injuries, diagnosis, management, and follow-up. Whenever available, evidence-based guidelines are used to inform clinicians of the most appropriate care for each type of injury. A holistic approach is adopted, taking into account the child's developmental stage and ability to tolerate the proposed treatment. When indicated, more advanced forms of behavior guidance are discussed to enable the delivery of safe and effective care that will allow the best outcome to be achieved. Often, traumatic dental injuries result in sequelae that compromise the health of the developing permanent teeth. These sequelae and appropriate treatment options are described along with innovative approaches designed to preserve bone and maximize future treatment possibilities. The book will be a valuable asset for both pediatric and general dentists.