Focus on safety ± an
award scheme for
nurseries, pre-schools
and playgroups in the
City of Hull
Alison Cockerill
Introduction
Accidents are the most common cause of
death and disability to children over the age of
one year in the UK (Department of Health,
1998). Their prominence in the mortality
statistics has become ever higher since the
virtual elimination of the major childhood
infections which used to exact such a heavy
toll (Quick, 1991). In 1992, 563 children died
as a result of an accident (Sowden et al.,
1996) with over 2.5 million children under 15
visiting a hospital accident and emergency
department annually due to an injury and an
unknown number visiting their general prac-
titioner for advice and treatment (Towner et
al., 1996). It has been estimated that over
2,000 youngsters become permanently dis-
abled to some degree each year because of an
unintentional injury (Quick, 1991). The cost
of children's accidents to the National Health
Service in England and Wales alone was
estimated at £200 million in 1992, which
constitutes about 5 percent of its total budget
(Sowden et al., 1996). The emotional cost to
the victims, their families and carers is
incalculable.
Children under five years of age are
particularly at risk, sustaining 61 percent of all
childhood accidents but comprising only 35
percent of the UK's child population (Child
Accident Prevention Trust, 1998). Of fatal-
ities, 40 percent come from this age group. In
1992 nearly half the childhood accidental
deaths were due to a road traffic accident
(where they were either pedestrians, vehicle
occupants or pedal cyclists), 15 percent were
caused by fire and flames, 8 percent by
drowning and 7 percent by falls (Sowden et
al., 1996).
Childhood accidents are closely linked with
social deprivation, with youngsters from
poorer backgrounds five times more likely to
die as a result of an accident compared to
those from better off backgrounds. The
differences are particularly noticeable for
pedestrian deaths and fires (Quick, 1991) and
this gap is widening (Department of Health,
1992). Studies have found a correlation
between accidents to children and parental
unemployment, overcrowding, young
mothers and family stress. It has been
suggested that the youngsters most at risk are
those accommodated in temporary housing
(Quick, 1991).
The author
Alison Cockerill is a Senior Health Promotion Specialist,
specialising in child health issues, with Hull & Holderness
Community Health NHS Trust, Hull, UK.
Keywords
Accidents, Children, Awards, Alliances, Health and safety
Abstract
Accidents are the most common cause of death to
children over the age of one year. Pre-school children are
at particular risk and account for 30 percent of child
attendances following an accident at Hull Royal Infirmary
Accident and Emergency Department. With children
spending more time outside the home at pre-schools,
playgroups and nurseries there is a need to ensure that
accident prevention and safety remains high on their
agenda. This paper details the development of the Focus
on Safety award scheme developed by a multi-agency
group in Hull. Participating groups are asked to consider
their own health and safety policies and how they
promote accident prevention to both children and their
parents / carers. The pilot of the Award Scheme showed
that it was very popular with nurseries, pre-schools and
playgroups and that it was meeting a definite need.
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253
Health Education
Number 6
.
November
.
1999
.
pp. 253±259
# MCB University Press
.
ISSN 0965-4283