Child Injury Prevention
The pages on this website aim to provide practitioners with evidence based information, guidance and tools to support families and enhance the safety of children and young people in South Gloucestershire.
Unintentional injuries in and around the home are a significant cause of ill health, disability and even death in children under the age of 5 years old. In 2021/22 alone, over 31,000 0-4 year old children in England were admitted to hospital because of an unintentional injury. This is just the tip of the iceberg as this doesn’t include all the children who visited accident and emergency, minor injuries units, primary care or were treated in the home. For more information on injury prevalence visit Child and Maternal Health – OHID (phe.org.uk)
Information and links to further information relating to specific causes of injury can be found on the Child Injury Prevention pages for parents/carers.
Home Fire Safety – This free training which will take around 1 hour 15 minutes, aims to help practitioners understand the risk and dangers of fire for those most vulnerable. It will cover topics including; cooking practices, hoarding, candles and smoking safety, electrical safety and how to make a referral into AF&RS. Training is held virtually via Microsoft Teams, and tickets are booked via Eventbrite. Fire Safety: Practitioner Training Sessions – Avon Fire & Rescue Service
Warm and well – for practitioners working with households at risk of fuel poverty Warm & Well Events | Eventbrite
Online Magazines on road use including Cycling, First bike, Learning to Drive and First car.
Car Seat Smarter – this is an online resource of 6 short films on car seat safety
PHE and CAPT Preventing unintentional Injuries in children under 5 years Public Health England and CAPT produced guidance for all staff working with children under the age of 5
Child Accident Prevention Trust resources centre.
There are numerous free education resources, including fact sheets videos and webinars on lots of different causes and types of injury. Free educational resources | Child Accident Prevention Trust (capt.org.uk)
South Gloucestershire Council work with partners to deliver a home safety equipment scheme to those families identified as eligible. Children’s Centres and the Health Visiting service can refer families into the scheme to receive safety equipment. The equipment is provided and fitted by South Gloucestershire Council technicians at no cost to the family. Provision of the scheme complies with NICE public health recommendations.
Home safety referral form Child Injury Prevention: Home Safety Equipment Referral for 0-4 year olds (office.com)
Parent Carer Guardian disclaimer Nov 23
For more information please contact publichealthhomesafety@southglos.gov.uk
ICON is all about helping people who care for babies to cope with crying.
Infant crying is normal, Comforting methods can help, It’s OK to walk away, Never, ever shake a baby.
When babies cry it can be stressful and overwhelming, help and advice is available. A wealth of information and support can be found at Home – ICON Cope.
For further support and guidance for practitioners please visit Professionals – ICON Cope
The Road Safety Team offer a number of interventions targeting pedestrians, cyclists, passengers, young drivers, drink/drug driving, for all ages and abilities.
Road Safety information for professionals contact us direct roadsafetyeducation@southglos.gov.uk
Bikeability information contact Cycle.Training@southglos.gov.uk
For further information on the support and services available please contact CYP@avonfire.gov.uk
Public Health England – Reducing unintentional injuries in and around the home among children under five years
This document sets out three action areas for local authorities and their partners that aim to reduce the numbers of children injured and killed. It also describes four steps local partnerships can take to build robust injury prevention strategies.
NICE
NICE – Unintentional injuries: prevention strategies for under 15s
This guideline covers strategies, regulation, enforcement, surveillance and workforce development in relation to preventing unintentional injuries in the home, on the road and during outdoor play and leisure. One of the recommendations in this guidance is that unintentional injury prevention is incorporated into local and national strategies for children and young people’s health and wellbeing.
NICE – Unintentional injuries in the home: interventions for under 15s
This guideline covers home safety assessments, supplying and installing safety equipment and providing education and advice. It aims to prevent unintentional injuries among all children and young people aged under 15 but, particularly those living in disadvantaged circumstances. Recommendations include integrating home safety conversations into other home visits, essentially making every contact count, and prioritising households at greatest risk.
NICE – Unintentional injuries on the road: interventions for under 15s
This guideline covers road speed limits, 20 mph zones and engineering measures to reduce speed or make routes safer. Recommendations include making popular routes used by children and young people safer.