Every 30 seconds, somewhere in the world, a child dies from an injury that could have been avoided — that’s nearly 3,000 young lives lost each day. To mark Emirati Children’s Day (15 March), the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC) and the Early Childhood Authority (ECA) have released two free handbooks designed to change that statistic: “Child Safety in Vehicles” and “Child Safety at Home.” 🚸
Why Little Ones Get Hurt So Easily 🤔
Children’s bodies and brains are still developing, which creates a perfect storm of risk factors:
- Big heads, tiny bodies ➡️ easy to topple over
- Narrow airways ➡️ choking hazards
- Delicate skin ➡️ bruises, cuts, burns
- Short stature ➡️ harder for drivers to spot
- Limited danger sense ➡️ they don’t recognise threats
- Boundless curiosity ➡️ they explore first, think later
The takeaway? Injuries aren’t “bad luck”; they’re predictable and preventable.
Top Injury Hotspots & How to Tackle Them 🏠🚗
The manuals focus on seven major threats: road incidents, falls, drowning, burns, poisoning, choking and bike crashes. Below is a quick‑start checklist for the first (and most common) danger: road traffic injuries. 🚗
Inside the Car
- 👶 Buckle up properly — use the right car seat, booster or belt for each stage of growth.
- 🚪 Activate child locks to keep little hands from opening doors or windows.
- ↔️ Seat kids in the back to stop window‑leaning and mid‑journey acrobatics.
- 👨👩👧 Be the role model — your own seat‑belt habit sets the tone.
Around Driveways & Garages
- 🅿️ Park away from play zones so reversing vehicles don’t mix with games of tag.
- 🚸 Teach “look, listen, wait” before moving near cars.
- 🔒 Never leave a child unattended in a parked vehicle — even “just one minute” is risky.
- 🪞 Install mirrors or cameras in SUVs and vans for blind‑spot checks.
- 🚧 Fence off driveways if possible, creating a clear boundary between play and traffic.
On the Pavement
- ✋ Hand‑holding is non‑negotiable when crossing the street.
- 🚦 Use crossings and wait for the green light, then look both ways twice.
- 📵 No texting while walking — model distraction‑free road behaviour.
COMING SOON 📝 The guides also dive into preventing falls, drowning, burns, poisoning, choking and bike‑related injuries. Watch this space for an at‑a‑glance summary of those life‑saving tips!
By weaving these simple habits into everyday routines, parents and caregivers can turn “accidents” into averted incidents and give kids the freedom to explore their world — safely. 🌟
