Prepared by: G.Santhi ,M.

Sc,
Assistant Professor
Department of Child Surgical Nursing

KVCN

ACCIDENTS: CAUSE AND PREVENTION

INTRODUCTION:

An accident or mishap is an unforeseen and unplanned circumstance, often occurring with

lack of intention or necessity. It usually implies a generally negative outcome which may have
been avoided or prevented, had circumstances leading to the accident been recognized. Every
year one million children under the age of 18 years are taken to accident and emergency units
after being involved in accidents at home. Many of the accidents that happen in and around the
home can be avoided by identifying and understanding potential accident risk in home.

COMMON CHILDHOOD ACCIDENT:

Following are the most common childhood accidents:

1. Fall
2. Burn
3. Fracture and dislocation
4. Sprain
5. Cut and abrasions
6. Animal bites
7. Poisoning
8. Drowning
9. Motor vehicle accidents
10. Foreign bodies
11. Suffocation
12. Crush injuries

TYPES OF ACCIDENTS:

1. According to the location where accident occurs, they are of two types-
a. Occurring outside home
b. Occurring in the home

2. According to severity, accidents are of two types-

 a. Major
b. Minor

FACTORS AFFECTING ACCIDENTS:

 Age: Accidents are more common between 2 – 10 years of age.

 Sex: Boys between 10 -14 years of age are more prone to accidents.
 Personality : Bright and alert children are more prone to accidents because they are eager
to do new activities.
 Ordinal position: Elder and younger children are more protected but middle ones are
neglected, so they are more prone to accidents.
 Time of day: Most accidents occur in afternoon.
 Weather condition: Accidents occur more in rainy season.
 Place: Accidents may occur in home or on road side.

CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS:

The important causes of accidents among children are as follows-

1. Curiosity among children.

2. Lack of supervision, especially at home.
3. Lack of play grounds and over crowded streets.
4. Impulses of the moment e.g. boys want to show off their bravery so they often indulge in
risky acts.
5. Lack of past experience.
6. Inability to judge danger.

EFFECTS OF ACCIDENTS:

Physical damage: Even a minor accident can cause cut, fracture, scar, sprain, dislocation etc.

Psychological damage: The child thinks that people will feel he is naughty and careless if has
too many bandages on body. He think himself a ‘wounded hero’.

COMMON CHILDHOOD ACCIDENTS:

Motor vehicles: Both as passengers and as pedestrians children may get injured.

Burns: Children may get burnt from heating appliances like stoves, irons, heaters etc. They may
get burnt from-

 OPEN FIRE: Fireplaces, outdoor fires, matches, lighters

 HOT LIQUIDS: Bathwater, cooking fluid, tea, coffee etc.
 ELECTRIC CIRCUIT: Defective wiring, unguarded outlets.
 STRONG ACIDES AND ALKALIES: ammonia, hydrochloric acid.
Drowning: In bath tub, sink, wells, swimming pool, ponds, ditches, rivers etc.

Falls : From furniture, stairs, unguarded windows, terrace etc

Poisoning: Drugs like aspirin, sedatives, antihypertensive, tranquilizers, insecticides, cleaning

agents, kerosene etc.

Suffocation : Plastic bags, discarded refrigerators etc.

Foreign bodies: Nuts especially peanuts, dried beans, pins, nails, screws, bolts, beads etc.

Cuts and punctures: Knife, scissors, large needles, broken glass, tools etc.

Crush injury: from wringers

HAZARDS PROTECTION
1. Drugs, chemicals, sharp  Keep in closets, cabinets, on drawers which
instruments are locked inaccessible or tightly wedged
with card board.
 Keep guards around stoves, heaters and fire
2. Burns and scalds places  Keep matches well out of children’s reach
 Keep stoves and utensils back from edge.
 Use no hanging tablecloths or runners.
3. Falls from unguarded stairs,  Use gates
windows
4. Furniture  Make discipline consistent and use gates.
5. Car doors  Use safety locks
6. Electricity  Use plastic plugs or tape over unused
sockets.
 Repair defective wiring.
 Place fans, mixers and power equipment out
of reach
7. Drawing and bathroom  Never leave full tub unguarded.
 Fence ponds and swimming pools
 Use consistent discipline at beach.
 Lock the doors of the car.
 Use consistent discipline on the street.

8. Traffic  Lock the doors of the car

9. Aspiration of foreign bodies
 Use consistent discipline on the street
 Keep small objects like marbles, jacks,
safety pins, buttons, nails out of reach in
cupboard.
 Make sure that toys have no parts that are
easily removable such as small wheels, eyes
of dolls etc
 10. Ingestion of lead  Repair defective walls and repaint peeling
surface with lead free paints

PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS:

1. During infancy the parents or care takers are entirely responsible for child’s safety. But
as he develops and gains independence in actions and a wider range of unsupervised
activity, his safety depends increasingly upon habits of self protection and prudence of
his care takers.
2. Physicians and nurses can exert their best influence by discussing potential hazards and
methods of averting them with parents of developing children.
3. Many of the most serious accidents are preventable, so the National Safety Council,
Children’s Bureau, State and local health departments, insurance companies and many
other public and private agencies are conducting safety programmes through advertising
articles in magazines, pamphlets and talks on radio and TV.
4. Well baby conferences and contacts with parents of sick children provide numerous
opportunities to inquire about hazards and remind parents of poisonous nature of drugs
and household chemicals. The nurse who pays home visit has a particularly valuable
opportunity to make a safety check and offer specific suggestions.
5. Children should be taught to exert their own control.
6. Restraint and discipline are necessary for young toddler but they should be carried out in
such a way that he becomes neither resentful nor over cautious and fearful.
7. Mothers should avoid constant nagging. Mothers should learn to make constructive
suggestions, substituting less dangerous toys or occupations for the ones which are
forbidden.
8. With potentially dangerous activities, discipline must be firm, prompt and consistent.
9. Physical punishments should be reserved for truly dangerous rather than merely annoying
behaviour