Child injury is the main cause of mortality and hospitalisation of children aged one to fourteen years. Your Well Child / Tamariki Ora Health Book provides a lot of valuable information to help keep your family safe. There are many practical steps you can take to reduce the risk of injuries such as falls, cuts, choking, suffocating prevention through safe sleep practices, poisons/bites/stings, burns/scalds/fires, sun safety, water safety, driveway injury prevention, car safety, and dog safety.
See the table below for a list of injury issues and corresponding ages.
|
Age |
Injury issues |
General/all ages |
|
First 6 weeks |
appropriate car restraints, falls safety (changing nappies on floor), hot drinks & burns, suffocation prevention through safe sleep practices |
|
|
3 months |
appropriate car restraints, falls safety (changing nappies on floor), hot drinks & burns, hazards of baby-walkers & baby bath seats, suffocation prevention through safe sleep practices |
|
|
5 months |
appropriate car restraints, choking (product & toy safety), hazards of baby-walkers & baby bath seats, falls safety (changing nappies on floor), household safety, suffocation prevention through safe sleep practices, safety around dogs, driveway safety, pool fencing |
|
|
8–10 months |
appropriate car restraint, falls safety (stair & door guards/gates, window latches, bunk beds, changing nappies on floor), household safety (eg, secure furniture to walls –TVs, bookcases, chest of drawers, shelving), suffocation prevention through safe sleep practices, safety around dogs, driveway safety, pool fencing |
|
|
15 months |
appropriate car restraint, water safety (supervision, water confidence classes, life jackets, pool fencing), driveway safety, safe play area away from road (includes pedestrian safety), falls safety, household safety (eg, secure furniture to walls), safety around dogs |
|
|
21–24 months |
appropriate car restraint, water safety, driveway safety, safe play area away from road, falls safety, household safety (eg, secure furniture to walls), safety around dogs |
|
|
3 years |
appropriate car restraint/booster seat, cycling/scooter/ skateboard safety (helmets, protective gear, visibility, supervision), safe play area away from road (includes pedestrian safety), water safety, driveway safety, falls safety, household safety (eg, secure furniture to walls), safety around dogs |
|
|
5 years |
appropriate car restraint/booster seat, cycling/scooter/skateboard safety, pedestrian safety, water safety, driveway safety, falls safety, household safety (eg, secure furniture to walls), safety around dogs |
