An important hazard threatened to preschool children: Home accident

Injuries are one of the most important factors threatened the health of children in developed or developing countries. In this study, the sociodemographic factors such as age, gender and seasonal features of the patients applied to emergency service due to home accidents were aimed to evaluate. In this retrospective study, 305 home injury cases applied to Dicle University Faculty of Medicine Emergency Service between January and December, 2001 and had adequate records were evaluated. Cases were classified according to the types of accidents, age groups, clinics where they were hospitalized and seasons and months which they applied to the hospital. Among home injuries, burns were seen most frequently (186 cases, 61.0%) and followed by falls (30 cases, 9.8%). Home injury incidence was greatest among pre-school children in 0 to 4 age category (142 cases, 46.6%) and also it was greater for males than females at all ages (M/F=191/114, p<0.0001). Hospital applications were found to be mostly in spring (March and April, 31 cases each) (28.2%) and summer (June and July, 30 cases each) (27.2%). Although the average age was 12.6±14.9 years when the whole cases were evaluated, it exhibited significantly different values due to the injury types. Totally 6 cases (4 females and 2 males, 1.97%) were died because of home injuries. Consequently, in order to prevent and control home injuries, it is necessary to take preventive measures and security systems especially for preschool children whom are the most important risk group and to provide the education of parents, teachers and baby-sitters.