Understanding Accidents: Causes and Prevention Measures

Accidents are the leading cause of death in children. Furthermore, they are a preventable problem. The age in which childhood accidents are most frequent is between 2 and 3 years old and between 11 and 14 years, being more frequent in boys than in girls.

The types of accidents are: trauma (most), foreign body injuries, poisonings, burns (especially in the kitchen), bites, scratches and stings, and drowning.

To prevent child accidents, the child's environment must be protected by eliminating elements capable of injuring the child and promoting information and education to parents on safety at home or in the car.

1 Precautions at home

Kitchen: it is the most dangerous place for children, especially when cooking. All cleaning objects should be put in a place not accessible to children, never let them touch the gas taps or avoid them reaching sharp objects, matches or lighters. They should not go near the hot oven.

Bathroom: you must be careful with falls by putting anti-slip in the bathtub or shower, you have to control the temperature of the bath water and unplug the electrical appliances while the child is bathing.

Rest of the house: do not leave medicines within reach, protect plugs and furniture corners, do not leave scissors or other sharp or sharp objects within reach, do not let children play with plastic bags (there is a risk of suffocation), Stairs and windows must be protected to prevent falls. You have to be careful with the chimneys.

2. Precautions on the street

Children must be educated in traffic safety: crossing on the green and through the pedestrian crossing. The use of a helmet should be encouraged when cycling or skateboarding. If children bathe in the pool or in the sea, they must be accompanied by an adult and they must be protected from sunburn.

3. Safety in the car

• They should sit on the appropriate devices for their age and weight.

4. Summary by age group

• 0 to 2 years
  • Car safety
  • Bath water temperature
  • Fire Prevention at Home (Kitchen)
  • Hazardous household items (plugs, spikes, sharp edges, windows, door angles)
  • Prevention of foreign body aspiration
  • Storage of drugs and toxic and caustic substances (from 9 months)
• 2 to 6 years
  • Car safety and driver education
  • Safe storage of drugs and toxic substances
  • Hazardous household items
  • Home fire prevention
  • Pool safety
  • Prevention of foreign body aspiration
  • Bicycle safety
• 6 to 14 years
  • Car safety and driver education
  • Bicycle, moped and skateboard safety
  • Anti-alcoholic advice in adolescents
  • Home fire prevention
  • Pool safety
  • Poisoning prevention
  • Prevention of violent behavior and the use of weapons in adolescents