INTRODUCTION: THE HORIZON OF CHILDHOOD INJURY

Abstract

The search for childhood injury control, while encountering new advances in safety engineering, human understanding and techniques of study, continually leads to receding child safety horizons. Technologic gains pose new threats to child and family life; the increasingly rapid pace of living creates problems for children and those who supervise them. Each method of injury is a "disease" unto itself in terms of epidemiologic factors involving the child and his human and physical environment that interact to produce injury and disability. Two years ago, a group of scientists, pediatric practitioners, and public health authorities met in Charlottesville, Virginia, for the first National Childhood Injury Symposium. Many disciplines were represented and a variety of views of the childhood injury problem were offered; it became apparent that this leading health problem of children required all of these disciplines not only to understand the issues involved but to launch an attack upon it. As a result of this first meeting, a score of new studies were developed, more effective communication between investigators and those interested in prevention was initiated, and a more adequate understanding of the complex health problem was obtained. It soon became apparent from participants and other interested workers that another meeting would have an advantage for these reasons. The papers which follow reflect some of the extent of this interest and knowledge which has developed concerning childhood injury. The interdisciplinary nature of the representation of intensive workshop activities was a part of the program, although not included here due to limitations of space.