Can Child Accidents Be Prevented in Your Community?

Abstract
Accidents represent the first cause of death among children. In the age group 1-14 about 12,000 accidental deaths occurred last year. During a recent 15-yr. period the.decline in the child accident death rate compares unfavorably with the marked decline in death rates from diseases of children. Although national efforts are necessary to stimulate widespread interest in child safety, well-organized child safety programs on a community level are essential to the ultimate and continuous lessening of the child accident death rate. An organized health dept. is in a position to take the leadership in an effective community child safety program. A number of other official agencies and many non-official local groups can cooperate effectively in such a program. To be effective the child safety program should be well planned and set up on a continuing basis. The community child safety committee should seek to obtain pertinent information regarding child accidents and to survey physical conditions affecting child safety. Through safety education in the schools, addresses before meetings of local organizations, the use of exhibits and demonstrations; the effective distribution of literature, continuous publicity in the local press, and the use of the radio and other channels of public information, child safety should be kept continuously before the public.