Every day more than 10 children die in South
Africa due to injuries and many more are permanently disabled as a result
of accidental injury.
CAPFSA updates and analyses available statistics
on childhood injuries. Research projects / data completed are:
-
Injuries presenting at the Red Cross
Children's Hospital (on site)
-
Analysis of drowning in South African
children (SA Lifesaving)
-
Road traffic injuries and deaths in South
Africa (on site) (Central statistical services)
-
Burn Injuries presenting at Red Cross
Children's Hospital
-
Playground injuries presenting at Red
Cross Children's Hospital
-
| Falls
were the leading cause of injuries in children under the age of 14
presenting to Red Cross Children's Hospital in 1997/98. A more detailed
table of the causes of injury may be found here: |
 |
|
| Eighteen
percent of children were injured in traffic collisions, predominantly
as pedestrians. |
 |
|
| The
most common types of burns are due to hot liquids or fluids such as
boiling water, tea, coffee etc. More than 60 children are admitted
annually with fire/flame related burns. The majority of these children
come from underprivileged communities who use fossil fuels for heating.
|
 |
|
| Nearly
half of the assaults are the result of blunt force. Sexual assault
or rape accounts for a disturbing 16% of all assault cases seen in
the hospital. Few children are assaulted with a firearm. Those that
are shot are usually innocent bystanders, caught in crossfire or accidentally
shot by themselves or another party. |
 |
|
| The
majority of falls were on a level, probably while the child was running.
However, many children fell from heights and a disturbing number were
injured on playground equipment. |
 |
