Childhood injuries: common causes

Understanding child injuries

It’s not possible – or even a good idea – to protect your child from all the bumps, bruises, scrapes and falls of childhood. These are just part of growing up for an active, curious child. But with some practical steps and planning, these incidents are more likely to be the kind that a kiss, cuddle or bandaid will fix, rather than one of the many serious accidents that happen in Australia each year.

Unintentional injuries, not diseases, are the biggest cause of death and disability in children under 15 years in Australia. Most of these injuries can be prevented.

Common child injuries and accidents: causes

The most common causes of child injuries in Australia are:

1. falls
2. road accidents – for example, running out into traffic
3. poisoning
4. burns and scalds
5. assault.

The most common causes of child deaths in Australia are:

1. road accidents
2. drowning
3. assault.

Other common causes of child deaths and injuries include:

• choking, strangling and suffocation
• crushing and trapping
• smoke, fire and flames
• bicycle accidents.

What you can do to prevent serious child injuries

Keep an extra close eye on your children in situations where they’re most likely to get into difficulties. This includes when they’re:

• in the bath – you can read more about bath safety
• in the kitchen – read more about household poisons, burns prevention and scalds prevention
  
• at the pool or beach or near water – read more about safe fun with water
• near driveways, car parks and roads – read more about pedestrian safety and staying safe in the car
• visiting away from home.

It’s a very good idea to do a first aid course so that you’re prepared for any injuries or accidents your child might have.

Always keep a first aid kit handy at home and in your car.

You can also keep a list of emergency numbers by the phone.

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Last updated or reviewed
10-10-2016

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• References

  Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) (2014). Hospitalised injury in children and young people 2011-12 [Injury research and statistics series no. 91, Cat. no. INJCAT 167]. Canberra: AIHW. Retrieved 8 August 2016 from http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=60129549325.

  Kendrick, D., Young, B., Mason‐Jones, A.J., Ilyas, N., Achana, F.A., Cooper, N.J., & Mulvaney, C. (2013). Home safety education and provision of safety equipment for injury prevention (Review). Evidence‐Based Child Health: A Cochrane Review Journal, 8(3), 761-939.

  Turner, S., Arthur, G., Lyons, R.A., Weightman, A.L., Mann, M.K., Jones, S.J., & Lannon, S. (2011). Modification of the home environment for the reduction of injuries. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2011, 2, CD003600. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003600.pub3.

  Morrongiello, B.A., McArthur, B.A., & Bell, M. (2014). Managing children’s risk of injury in the home: Does parental teaching about home safety reduce young children’s hazard interactions? Accident Analysis & Prevention, 71, 194-200.

  Wynn, P.M., Zou, K., Young, B., Majsak-Newman, G., Hawkins, A., Kay, B., & Kendrick, D. (2016). Prevention of childhood poisoning in the home: Overview of systematic reviews and a systematic review of primary studies. International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion, 23(1), 3-28.