Installation of safety devices reduces the risk of home injury in children
- Division of Pediatric Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Ontario, Canada
- Correspondence to W James King
Division of Pediatric Medicine, Children's Hospital of Eastern, Ontario, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1H8L1, Canada;
Implications for nursing practice
■ Installation of simple safety equipment such as stair gates, cabinet locks and smoke detectors can significantly reduce the exposure to safety hazards in the home and the rate of medically attended injuries.
■ Families should receive education regarding the risk of home injury in children.
Implications for nursing research
■ Research is needed to further identify the best mode of intervention delivery and the contextual effects that influence intervention effectiveness in different cultures and settings.
■ A cost–benefit analysis is recommended.
The home is a principal setting for injury mortality and morbidity, especially for those younger than 15 years of age.1 The specific types and causes of childhood injuries vary according to age and development. Fires and burns, inhalation and suffocation and drowning are the leading causes of unintentional home injury death while …