Shock home accident figures are unveiled

The Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust) is bringing the child safety message to a location well-known in the North-West and further afield in an effort to reduce injuries to children.

The Western Trust has placed a poster at Free Derry Corner to highlight the prevalence of injuries caused by accidents in the home among children under the age of five. Of attendances of children under five at Altnagelvin Hospital Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department, 59% are related to falls.

The public are being reminded of this statistic in the poster unveiled to coincide with Child Safety Week (21 June to 27 June) to draw attention to the issue and contribute to reducing the number of such incidents.

Western Trust Consultant in Emergency Medicine Dr Stephen Clenaghan explained the importance of the injury prevention campaign.

Dr Clenaghan said: "On average 34 children under five years of age attend the A&E Department at Altnagelvin every week as a result of having sustained an injury in the home. We have noted a 30% increase in attendance in this age group over recent years.

"Children are more prone to injuries when they are in an unfamiliar surroundings, are tired or excited. Children sometimes do not understand dangers in their environment."

The poster campaign is a joint project with the Western Trust's Emergency Care and Health Improvement Departments and is funded by the Public Health Agency.

As part of the campaign, information on attendances at A&E will be offered to local communities and groups interested in health improvement to enable them to take an informed and pro-active approach to reduce accidents in the home.

Sandra Semple, Healthy Settings and Accident Prevention Coordinator for the Western Trust, explained: "Over the coming weeks and months resources and publicity material in various formats will be offered to these groups and communities. The resources will include the information poster in various sizes, a home accident prevention Power Point presentation – with local information; a fact sheet on accidents in the home. Information from the Child Accident Prevention Trust on how to deliver home accident prevention training will also be offered as will leaflets on home accident prevention, care in the sun, room thermometers and accident awareness story books."

Joanne Doherty, Injury Prevention Officer, Western Trust, said: "We would encourage all groups interested in reducing home accidents among children to take advantage of this unique opportunity to use resources and enable the community to play their part in tackling this problem."

Any community organisation or member of the public who would like further information on the injury prevention campaign and how to avail of the various resources available can contact Joanne Doherty, Injury Prevention officer, at the A&E Department in Altnagelvin Hospital, telephone 028 7134 5171 ext 4931.