Preventing Unintentional Injuries in Children and Young People Under 15 (Clinical) (Report‪)‬

Introduction In the UK, unintentional injury is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children aged one to 14 years (Audit Commission and Healthcare Commission, 2007) and puts more children in hospital than any other cause (DCSF, 2009). In 2003, it caused the death of 215 one- to 14-yearolds each year, compared with 50 deaths from meningitis and 35 killings by family members or strangers (Griffiths et al, 2005). Treating injury costs the NHS approximately 2billion [pounds sterling] each year (DH, 2002), and it is also well recognised that many unintentional injuries are preventable (RoSPA, 2002).