Predictable and Preventable: Historical and Current Efforts to Improve Child Injury Prevention.

Abstract

Childhood injuries are a global epidemic. Accidents resulting in childhood injury and death were first identified as a concern over a century ago. However, "accidents" leading to injury were not recognized as being predictable and preventable until more recently. To describe the worldwide epidemic of childhood injuries, and look at international successes in the field of injury prevention. Literature pertaining to injury prevention was reviewed to describe the history of childhood injury prevention, guiding principles of injury prevention, successful strategies for prevention, and future directions. Through surveillance, evidence-based injury prevention initiatives, and multi-disciplinary collaboration, we anticipate further reduction in childhood injuries.