Crash

• At least a quarter of all emergency department presentations during childhood are injury-related.
• Injuries can be unintentional (falls, road crashes, drowning, burns) or intentional (self harm, violence, assault).
• The type, place and cause of injury differs by age, developmental stage and sex.

children aged 1–4 years are the age group most likely to present to an emergency department with injuries
adolescents aged 16–18 years are the age group most likely to be admitted to hospital for injuries
boys are more likely to be hospitalised for injuries than girls. This continues into adulthood
girls are five times more likely to be hospitalised for intentional self-harm injuries than boys
falls are the leading cause of childhood injury, accounting for one in three child injury hospitalisations. Falls from playground equipment are the most common
fractures are the most common type of childhood injury, especially arm and wrist fractures in children aged 10–12 years.

• For children under age one, drowning, burns, choking and suffocation had the highest injury hospital admission rates compared to adults.
• In early childhood (ages 1-4 years), the highest causes of injury hospitalisation were drowning, burns, choking and suffocation and accidental poisoning.

What about sports?

• Cycling causes the highest number of sporting injuries with almost 3,000 injury hospital presentations.
• For the top 20 sports that are most likely to cause injury hospital admissions, fractures are the most common type of injury.
• How to spot a serious injury now school and sport are back

Balancing risk and safety

• To prevent injuries, we need to balance risk and safety.
• Embracing risk is a fundamental part of play in all environments where children play and explore their world.
• But with proper guidance and supervision from parents and caregivers, we can strike a balance between offering opportunities for risk-taking and ensuring children’s safety from serious harm.

What can governments do to prevent injuries?

• This will provide clear guidance for all levels of government and others on prevention strategies and investment needed.
• Better reporting on childhood and adolescent injury trends will better inform parents, caregivers, teachers and health professionals about the risks.

• She is currently undertaking a project specific short term contract at the AIHW, in the Family and Domestic Violence Unit.
• Dr Sharwood is recognised as a Professional Fellow in the Faculty of Engineering and IT, UTS, for her industry expertise in product related injuries.
• Warwick Teague is Director of Trauma and Consultant Paediatric Surgeon at The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne (RCH).