4 charts showing how the risk of injury in children changes over time and differs between boys and girls news

There are injuries primary reason disability and death amongst Australian children and young people. At least one quarter of all emergency department presentations in childhood are related to trauma.

Injuries could also be unintentional (falls, road accidents, drowning, burns) or intentional (self-harm, violence, assault). The type, location and cause of the injury vary depending on age, stage of development and gender. Injury also varies depending on socioeconomic status and where you reside. Injuries are predictable and avoidable events, and understanding where and how they occur is important to taking preventive measures.

AND latest report The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report published today provides more information on injuries suffered by Australian children and young people between July 2021 and June 2022. It establishes:

Children aged 1–4 years are the age group almost certainly to present to the emergency department resulting from injuries

adolescents aged 16–18 are the age group almost certainly to be admitted to hospital for injuries

boys are more likely than girls to be hospitalized resulting from injuries. This continues into maturity

girls are five times more more likely to be hospitalized intentional self-harm than boys

falls are the leading cause of injury in children and account for one in three hospitalizations for injuries. Falls from playground equipment are the commonest

fractures are the commonest type of injury in children, especially hand and wrist fractures in children aged 10–12 years.

Thus, injury patterns differ in boys and girls. The causes of injuries in children change as they undergo different stages of development.

For children under one 12 months of age, (*4*)drowning, Burnschoking and suffocation accounted for the biggest number of hospital admissions with injuries in comparison with adults.

In early childhood (ages 1–4), the commonest causes of hospitalization for injuries were drowning, burns, choking and suffocation, and accidental poisoning.

Road and other injuries in transport are the commonest cause of injuries requiring hospitalization amongst young people aged 16–18.

What about sports?

Sports and physical activity involve the risk of injury. But the health advantages are far-off outweigh the risks.

Cycling causes the largest number of sports injuries – almost 3,000 cases of hospitalization resulting from injuries. Again, energetic transport does many advantages for our health and connecting communities. But it’s still there Much still must be done to make cycling safer.

Of the 20 sports in which injuries are almost certainly to cause hospitalization, the commonest type of injury is fracture. Soft tissue injuries, open wounds and head injuries are also common.

However, the data ought to be interpreted with caution because only roughly half of all pediatric trauma hospitalizations were identified as “active during injury.”

We know that injuries most frequently occur at home.

Balancing risk and security

Injuries could be serious or fatal. Even non-fatal injuries can keep children in the hospital for long periods of time and delay their growth and development.

We must prevent injuries balance risk and safety. For children, fun is the necessary part learning and expressing different skills, knowledge and attitudes. Play teaches children how to resolve problems, promotes social and emotional development, improves self-awareness and helps improve their physical abilities.

Taking risks is a necessary part of play in all environments where children play and explore their world. As children enter adolescence, the nature of these risks changes. But with the right one leadership and supervision from parents and carers, we are able to strike a balance between offering opportunities to take risks and keeping children protected from serious harm.

What can governments do to stop injuries?

The Australian government has developed a brand new project National Injury Prevention Strategyscheduled for publication in 2024. It will provide clear guidance to all levels of government and beyond on preventive strategies and needed investments.

In the meantime, higher injury monitoring data is urgently needed to raised discover the cause of injuries (comparable to domestic violence, alcohol and other drug abuse, intentional self-harm, or consumer product-related injuries) and where injuries occurred (home, school, shopping mall etc.). There can be insufficient attention given to priority populations, including people from low socio-economic status, people in rural and distant areas and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Better reporting Injury trends in children and adolescents will help higher inform parents, caregivers, teachers and health care providers about the risks.