Characteristics of childhood injuries. Prevention measures
When analyzing childhood and school injuries, it is taken into account that each age group has its own characteristics. It is necessary to teach children proper behavior at home, on the street, in public places, and during sports activities.
In our country, there is still no unified classification of childhood injuries.
There are 5 main causes of childhood injuries:
- Adult carelessness – the behavior of a person who foresees that an accident may occur but mistakenly believes that it will not happen.
- Adult negligence – the failure or improper performance of their duties by parents and persons carrying out the educational process.
- Lack of discipline in children.
- Accidents – incidents caused by factors beyond human control, or unforeseen events in which no one is to blame (e.g., lightning strike).
- Other causes.
Methods of preventing childhood injuries depend on the child's age. In infancy, for example, constant supervision is particularly important. Of course, it is difficult to watch a child 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, but the younger the child, the more important it is not to lose sight of them. Childhood injuries in infancy are entirely the responsibility of the parents. An infant does not yet know what "dangerous" means, and it is impossible to explain it to them. So, if a baby swallows a button or falls out of a stroller left on the balcony, the parents are to blame.
The child grows, starts to walk, and goes for walks with you outside, so now your task is to maximally protect them from hazardous objects. At home, hide fragile and sharp objects, matches, electric heating appliances, and chemicals (cleaning products, paints, varnishes, etc.) from them. Electrical outlets should be covered with special plugs. Windows should be closed (or at least equipped with sturdy nets), and the child should not be allowed near the stove and
Additionally, at this age, children should already be taught to independently assess the degree of danger. Explain to them that they can get burned by matches and irons, cut themselves with a knife, and scald themselves with boiling water. At this age, children are quite capable of understanding reasoning, and it is better for them to learn about danger from your words than from their own experience. Just explain calmly, do not frighten the child.
The older the child gets, the more important it becomes to explain safety rules. When a child goes to school, parents often shift the responsibility for child injuries to homeroom teachers, physical education teachers, labor education teachers, and life safety teachers.
Of course, it is impossible to completely eradicate child injuries – unfortunately, no one is immune to accidents. But the parents' task is to ensure their child's maximum safety. After all, most injuries occur precisely due to parental negligence – not watching closely enough, not explaining enough.
Senior Assistant to the Vitebsk Transport Prosecutor E.A. Kazakova