Childhood injuries: common causes

• email
• save PDF
• print

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

Understanding the most common causes of childhood injuries helps you know what to look out for, and what to teach children about as they get older.

What to be aware of

The most common causes of childhood injuries (2002-2003):

1. Falls
2. Bicycle accidents
3. Poisoning
4. Burns and scalds
5. Road accidents such as running out into traffic.

The most common causes of child deaths in Australia (1999-2003):

1. Traffic accidents 
2. Drowning 
3. Choking and strangling and suffocation 
4. Crushing and trapping 
5. Smoke, fire and flames 
6. Falls 
7. Poisoning.

What you can do

Keep an extra close eye on your child in situations where they are most likely to get into difficulties, including when they are:

• In the bath
• In the kitchen
• At the pool or beach or near water
• Near driveways, car parks and roadsides
• Visiting away from home.

Knowing what new exploits and explorations you can expect from your children as they develop and grow can also be a big help. This makes it easier to anticipate new dangers that they might face, and makes it easier to protect them.

It's also a good idea to practise some emergency procedures and have first-aid essentials on hand, as well as a list of emergency numbers by the phone.

• Rated4 ratingsRate this item
• FeedbackTell us what you think of this item
• Your story Share your parenting tips