Injury prevention and control in children

Abstract

Injury is the number one cause of death and life-years lost for children. In children, injury mortality is greater than childhood mortality from all other causes combined. Modern injury prevention and control seeks to prevent and limit or control injuries through the 4 Es of injury prevention: engineering, enforcement, education, and economics. Emergency physicians are often placed in a critical role in the lives of individuals, are respected authorities on the health and safety of children and adults, and have daily exposure to high-risk populations. This gives emergency physicians a unique perspective and an opportunity to take an active role in injury control and prevention. Specific methods or strategies for promulgating injury prevention and control in our emergency medicine practices are suggested, ranging from education (for our patients and health professionals); screening and intervention for domestic violence, child maltreatment, drug-alcohol dependency and abuse; data collection; reporting unsafe products; research; legislation; serving in regulatory and governmental agencies; emergency medical services-community involvement; and violence prevention. Emergency physicians can play a significant role in decreasing pediatric injury and its concomitant morbidity and mortality.