Childhood unintentional injuries: Supervision and first aid provided

Background : The aim of this study was to investigate the circumstances surrounding unintentional injuries of children and the appropriateness of the first aid provided by caregivers. Materials and Methods : This prospective study included children with aged range 0-12 years, who presented with an u...

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Published in:	African journal of paediatric surgery Vol. 10; no. 4; pp. 339 - 344
Main Authors:	Jonkheijm, Annabel, Zuidgeest, Jenny Johanna, van Dijk, Monique, van As, Àrjan
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	India Medknow Publications 01-10-2013 Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
Subjects:	Accidental Falls Accidents, Traffic Caregivers Child Child, Preschool Children Emergency Medical Services - methods Female First aid in illness and injury Follow-Up Studies Humans Incidence Infant Infant, Newborn Injuries Male Methods Practice Prognosis Prospective Studies public health South Africa South Africa - epidemiology Survival Rate - trends trauma Wounds and Injuries - epidemiology Wounds and Injuries - etiology Wounds and Injuries - therapy South Africa trauma South Africa infant Child public health
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Summary:	Background : The aim of this study was to investigate the circumstances surrounding unintentional injuries of children and the appropriateness of the first aid provided by caregivers. Materials and Methods : This prospective study included children with aged range 0-12 years, who presented with an unintentional injury at the Trauma Unit of a hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, over a 3 month period. Caregivers were interviewed about the circumstances of the injury and the first aid provided. Experts classified the first aid as appropriate, appropriate but incomplete, or inappropriate. Results: A total of 313 children were included with a median age of 3.75 years. The most common causes of injury were falls (39.6%, n = 124), burns (23.9%, n = 75) and motor vehicle crashes (10.5%, n = 33). More than a quarter of the children (27.2%, n = 81) had been left under the supervision of another child below the age of 12. When the injury occurred, 7.1% (n = 22) of the children were unattended. First aid was provided in 43.1% (n = 134) of the cases. More than half of these interventions (53%, n = 72) were inappropriate or appropriate but incomplete. Conclusions: Especially young children are at risk for unintentional injuries. Lack of appropriate supervision increases this risk. Prevention education of parents and children may help to protect children from injuries. First-aid training should also be more accessible to civilians as both the providing of as well as the quality of first-aid provided lacked in the majority of cases.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	0189-6725 0974-5998
DOI:	10.4103/0189-6725.125446