An Australian-first safety guide has been launched to combat childhood injury, the number one cause of death and hospitalisation of children over the age of one.
The Child Safety Good Practice Guide is a compilation of all the evidence regarding childhood injury and will be an "invaluable" resource for government, sporting organisations and child safety advocates, says Dr Julie Brown at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA).
"Good evidence is central to being able to achieve real reduction in injury," said Dr Brown.
A 10-year national review of childhood injuries, released last month, found nearly 700,000 children ended up in hospital with an injury between 2002 and 2012 at a cost of $212 million each year.
Nationally, almost 200 young lives are lost to injury and that figure has not reduced in the past 10 years.
The report found most injuries were caused by road accidents and falls from playground equipment.
Dr Susan Adams, a paediatric surgeon at Sydney Children's Hospital, worked with NeuRA and NSW Kidsafe to develop the guide and says childhood injury is a "huge public health issue" important to families.
"In my job I see children and families who only ever wanted the best for their children, whose lives are changed forever in the blink of an eye, due to injury," said Dr Adams.
The Australian edition of the child safety guide builds on previous work done by researchers overseas and for the first time includes on section of preventing sporting injuries.
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