Unintentional injuries among children under five years

&reducing risk of fire

1

• Unintentional injuries leading cause of preventable death for under 5s

• Major cause of ill health and serious disability

• 102 children & young people died annually between 2008 – 2012

• 62 of these are under 5

• 452,000 attend A&E

• 40,000 admitted to hospital as an emergency

Note: These figures are reflected within Somerset

2 Unintentional injuries among children under five

Background

Location

Home 32%

Residential institution 0%

School 8%

Sports 7%

Street / highway 3%

Trade / service area (shops, etc) 2%

Industrial / construction 1%

Farm 0%

Other 7%

Unspecified 40%

3 Unintentional injuries among children under five

Emergency hospital admissions for unintentional injuries among under 25s, by location, 2008 - 2012

Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES). Copyright © 2014 Re‐used with the permission of The Health and Social Care Information Centre. All rights reserved.

Unintentional injuries among children under five 3 Unintentional injuries among children under five

Risk factors• Child development

• Physical environment in the home

• Knowledge and behaviour of parents/carers (includes literacy)

• Overcrowding or homelessness

• Availability of safety equipment

• New consumer products in the home

4 Unintentional injuries among children under five

Identifying prioritiesHospital admissions for unintentional injuries 2008 – 2012 for under fives

5 Unintentional injuries among children under fiveUnintentional injuries among children under five

53%

23%

13%

6%

3%

1%

Falls

Struck by object

Poisoning

Heat/Hot substances

Struck by person or animal

Choking, suffocation, strangulation

Deaths from 2008 – 2012 for under fives

Unintentional injuries among children under five

Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES). Copyright © 2014 Re‐used with the permission of The Health and Social Care Information Centre. All rights reserved.

6 Unintentional injuries among children under five

50%

23%

9%

8%

7%4% Choking, suffocation,

strangulation

Drowning

Falls

Smoke, fire, flames

Struck by object

Poisoning

1. Choking, suffocation and strangulation

2. Falls

3. Poisoning

4. Burns and scalds

5. Drowning

7 Unintentional injuries among children under five

5 priorities

8 Unintentional injuries among children under five

2008 – 2013 fire deaths

• 88 deaths

• Estimated societal cost over £1.65 million

• £145 million total

• 7 risk factors identified

9 Unintentional injuries among children under five

Evidence

10 Unintentional injuries among children under five

Characteristics of families needing early help

39% Families have mental health difficulties

10% Physical health difficulties

28% Alcohol problems

32% Drug problems

30% Domestic abuse

2/3 of families have at least one of these problems

Source: Graham Allen Early Interventions: the next steps

11 Unintentional injuries among children under five

Somerset Public Health’s Safer homes initiative

We will offer:

• A safety assessment and fire safety visit

• Safety equipment (e.g. stair gates, window locks, blind cord safety clips)

• A fitting service

• Training for Getset staff through RoSPA