ABSTRACT
It is impossible to completely avoid accidents in children, nor is it desirable. Children’s desire to explore their environment will inevitably expose them to hazards. The best experience is learned experience – by finding out at first hand the unpleasant results of these hazards, the child learns to avoid them. The majority of accidents have no long-lasting effects (e.g. scraped knees, bumped head, etc.). Unfortunately, children may be exposed to accidents which result in severe morbidity or even death. Three to four children die each
day from trauma, and approximately 10 000 children are disabled permanently every year in the UK.
