@article{ref1,
title="Childhood injuries in Israel: status and prevention strategies",
journal="Harefuah",
year="2003",
author="Hemmo-Lotem, Michal and Danon, Y.",
volume="142",
number="8-9",
pages="609-11, 646, 645",
abstract="BACKGROUND: In Israel, as in other developed  countries, injuries are a leading cause of death and disabilities among children  and youth between 1-19 years of age and the leading cause for Potential Years of  Life Lost up to 65 years of age. In 1997, 225 children died as a result of  accidental injuries, compared to 151 cases of death due to other internal  causes. The most prevalent cause of death being motor vehicle accidents, rating  3:100,000: drowning--1:100,000 and falls, burns, suffocation and  poisonings--less than 1:100,000 each. Mortality rates are just the tip of the  iceberg, the most extreme outcome of an injury. Hospitalization rates and  emergency room visits are higher. Injury was the cause for one out of 3 children  to visit the emergency department. Hence, in 2001, there were 187,531 visits due  to trauma, an annual rate of 712:10,000. The hospitalization rate due to  injuries was 67:10,000 and the mortality rate was 8:100,000. Injuries in the  community: Data concerning injuries in the community are relatively rare since  no surveillance system exist. In their article "Childhood injuries in  northern Israel--prevalence and risk factors", Miron at al. describe the  prevalence, demographic variables and risk factors of injuries in the community  of northern Israel. The article contributes to our knowledge of accidental  injuries at the level of the primary care physician in the community. The  findings indicate that falls and blows are the most common causes for mild  injuries that usually occur in the home and backyard, and Arab children are at  special risk for injuries, in general, and falls, in particular. These findings  are consistent with existing data. Prevention is the way: 71-95% of all injuries  can be prevented by simple means. This has been proven in many countries that  managed to reduce mortality from accidental injuries by 10-20%. In the U.S.A.,  for example, the percentage was reduced to about 35% in a decade. In Sweden, 3  decades of constant preventive efforts combined with close monitoring of the  data have proven effective in reducing rate of mortality due to accidental  injuries in children by 80%. The strategies which have proven to be effective  are education and publicity, safer products and surroundings, promoting public  policy, enforcement, data collection, research and evaluation and empowerment. A  combination of strategies is most effective. National Vision: Despite the dismal  picture, accidental injuries in children can be prevented and are not  inevitable. It is wise to look at injuries as a heterogeneous group of  illnesses, with different etiology, risk groups, and 'preventive  treatments'--a group of diseases which are all preventable. It is very  important that a national strategy for child safety be established accompanied  by an adequate budget. Above all, it requires a lot of faith and commitment for  the only vision: making the world a safer place for children.",
language="",
issn="0017-7768",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}