Child injury stats 'alarming'

The figures show 40,000 children - 8000 a year - were admitted to hospital as a result of accidents between 2008 and 2012. Photo / Getty Images

Suffocation and car crashes No 1 killers for children in New Zealand, says Safekids Aotearoa.

The leading cause of injury-related deaths among New Zealand children is suffocation, followed by car crashes.

The information has been highlighted by Safekids Aotearoa, based on child injury statistics for each district health board (DHB) in the country.

The figures show 40,000 children - 8000 a year - were admitted to hospital as a result of accidents between 2008 and 2012, making up 97 per cent of all injury-related child hospital admissions nationwide. The other 3 per cent were assaults, self-harm and "unclassified".

Safekids Aotearoa director Ann Weaver said the figures were alarming.

"On average around 150 children are hospitalised each week with serious injuries from unintentional injury and a further one to two children are killed the same way."

She said the No1 killer for children between 2006 and 2010 in most regions was suffocation, including that as a result of Sudden Unexplained Death of an Infant (SUDI).

Ms Weaver said other incidents that led to suffocation included those resulting from a cot being placed too close to blind cords and the baby getting tangled, or the baby getting caught between cot railings.

She said the second leading cause of accidental death was car accidents.

Nationally, about 90 children died as a result of unintentional injury each year.

When it came to hospital admissions, fall-related injuries were the leading cause across DHBs.

Boys were most at risk of injury, with fractures and open wounds the most common types of injury.

Plunket's national safety adviser, Sue Campbell, said the most important thing for parents was to anticipate how their children might get into trouble as they became bigger and more mobile.

"It's about anticipating and knowing how they develop, and adapting the home environment to this development."

She said this could be done by putting a barrier across stairs or creating a safe play space away from pools of water or driveways. Ensuring children were in age-appropriate child restraints when in vehicles and making sure children's cots were well away from blinds and cords were also important.

Ms Campbell said parents should let their children explore, but safely.

She hoped the findings could be used by DHBs and stakeholder groups in their injury-prevention work.

"All DHBs need to do their part to ensure children enjoy a life free from the adverse effects of unintentional injury and that they grow to their full potential."

6 Safety tips

• Be aware of your child's development.
• Adapt your home to the age of your child.
• Keep your child in a safe area away from water and driveways.
• Keep your child in an age-appropriate child restraint when driving.
• Sleep baby on their back.
• Keep cot away from blinds and cords.