Childcare/education
Sure Start settings
Grants & funding
Inclusion
Accidents & injuries
Why focus on accident and injury prevention?
Accidents and injuries are a major threat to the health and well-being of children in England. All children are exposed to hazards as part of their every day lives as they play, travel around and even when they are asleep. The extent of childhood injury varies depending on socio-economic group, age, sex, cultural or ethnic group and where they live. Children living in deprived areas are more likely to be admitted to hospital as a result of accidents and injuries than children in other areas. Accidents and injuries are preventable and with the right interventions there is considerable scope for these to be reduced.
Local activity driving forward accident and injury policy in Sure Start
A wide range of interventions are being implemented locally through Sure Start to prevent accidents and injuries among pre-school children. Activities include:
- Providing seminars for parents and carers on safety in the home and garden and issuing home and garden safety equipment on loan, hire for a small charge or for a fee
- Producing and distributing child safety booklets to raise awareness about child safety and prevent accidents.
- Linking up with local organisations that have experience working in the accident prevention field such as the local fire brigade and local charities.
Additional government activity regarding accident and injury policy
Accident and injury prevention policy is led by the Department of Health but is a cross-cutting and cross-government policy area. The Department for Trade and Industry, Health and Safety Executive and Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) also have initiative in this area. Much of this work links into and has an impact on accident and injury prevention within Sure Start.
The Accidental Injury Task Force was established to provide the basis for cross-Government action and to identify from the available evidence those steps which would have the greatest impact in preventing injury. The report of cross-Government task force on preventing accidental injury was published in October 2002. This report offers a practical way forward, drawing on the research literature from around the world. To obtain a copy of this report and for further information on accident and injury prevention policy click here.
