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.
Subject(s)
Child Abuse/prevention & control , Domestic Violence/prevention & control , Emergency Medicine/methods , Primary Prevention/methods , Wounds and Injuries/mortality , Wounds and Injuries/prevention & control , Child , Child, Preschool , Emergency Service, Hospital , Female , Humans , Infant , Injury Severity Score , Male , Risk Assessment , Survival Analysis , United States/epidemiology , Wounds and Injuries/therapySubject(s)
Child Health Services , Emergency Service, Hospital , Medically Uninsured , Child , Community-Institutional Relations , Emergency Service, Hospital/legislation & jurisprudence , Health Care Reform/legislation & jurisprudence , Health Resources , Health Services Accessibility/legislation & jurisprudence , Humans , Insurance, Health/legislation & jurisprudence , Medicaid/legislation & jurisprudence , Medically Uninsured/legislation & jurisprudence , United StatesABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: This study was conducted to survey parents of children seen in the emergency department regarding parent and child safety-related behaviors, parents' perceptions of their children's risks for injury, and educational needs. METHODS: The descriptive design involved three questionnaires with age-specific items related to children in groups 0-4 years, 5-12 years, and 13-15 years. Parents voluntarily completed the questionnaires in the emergency department waiting area. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, parametric tests, and content analysis. RESULTS: The culturally diverse sample included 81% minority group representation. Parents tended to underestimate their children's risks for injury from motor vehicle crashes. Less than one half of caretakers believed that most injuries can be prevented. Only one third of parents listed needs for future learning, although parents of younger children listed more needs. High response rates were received for knowing how to call 911, use of child car seats and seat belts, and smoke detectors in the home. DISCUSSION: Survey results provide evidence that parents have misconceptions about childhood injury. Through strategic planning, we have expanded our community education programs to focus on cardiopulmonary resuscitation and activating the emergency medical system, water safety, use of safety helmets, and injury prevention in the home.
