Making
Home Safe for Children
Author: Jamshed Akhtar
APSP J Case Rep 2012;
3: 1
Affiliation: Department of
Paediatric Surgery, National Institute of Child Health Karachi, Pakistan
Address for
Correspondence: Professor Dr. Jamshed Akhtar, Department of Paediatric
Surgery, National Institute of Child Health Karachi, Pakistan.
Email: Jamjim88@yahoo.com
Submitted on: 08-02-2012
Accepted on: 09-02-2012
Citation: Akhtar J. Making home
safe for children. APSP J Case Rep 2012; 3: 1.
Trauma
is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in children. A significant number
of injuries occur in home environment [1]. This subject has been studied
extensively in western countries and huge data is generated. Based upon the
findings many policy decisions have been taken in order to minimize the
potential threats at home. In addition many educational activities are conducted
for parents to teach safe practices for preventing accidents at home [2]. There
are few reports available on the subject from Pakistan, though most not
conducted on population basis [3,4]. Many
of these are based upon hospital emergency room records that may not reflect a
true picture of the magnitude.
It
is important to know the pattern of trauma in children from developing
countries as significant differences exist in socio-economic pattern and
government regulatory policies in comparison with Untied States and European
union [5,6]. In this issue of APSP Journal of Case
Reports, Mirza et al reported a 6 month old baby who ingested crystal gel ball,
being given by other child. The patient died in post operative period [7]. It
is important to report this case to higher authorities as this involves putting
a ban on import of such hazardous products from other countries. It would be of
interest to note that a ban is already in place on this product in Italy and
probably other European countries, as its potential threats have been reported
by consumers’ societies [8].
Physicians
involved in care of children thus have moral responsibility to address this issue
on priority basis. In this regard steps must be taken in educating public
through seminars and talk shows. Involving members of civil society groups and use
of electronic media, which is quite influential in this regard, shall boost the
momentum. Health officials must be taken on board for implementation of policy
decisions through legislation. Preventing children from accidents should
therefore be a priority in health related policies.
References
1.
Litovitz T,
Whitaker N, Clark L. Preventing battery ingestions: an analysis of 8648 cases.
Pediatrics 2010;125:1178-83.
2. Reich SM, Penner EK, Duncan GJ. Using baby books to increase new mothers' safety
practices. Acta Pediatr 2011;11:34-43.
3. Zia N, Khan UR, Razzak JA, Puvanachandra P, Hyder AA. Understanding unintentional childhood home
injuries: pilot surveillance data from Karachi, Pakistan. BMC Research Notes 2012;5:37.
4. Razzak JA, Luby SP, Laflamme L, Chotani H. Injuries among children in Karachi,
Pakistan--what, where and how. Public Health 2004;118:114-20.
6. Fatmi Z, Kazi A, Hadden WC, Bhutta ZA, Razzak JA, PappaG. Incidence and
pattern of unintentional injuries and resulting disability among children under
5 years of age: results of the National Health Survey of Pakistan. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2009;23:229-38.
7. Mirza B, Sheikh
A. Mortality in a case of crystal gel ball ingestion: An alert for parents. APSP
J Case Rep 2012; 3: 6.
8.
Product recalls. Available from URL http://webforms.sgs.com/v4/corp/safeguards/pdf/PRODUCT-RECALLS-Consumer-Products-November-16-30.pdf
accessed on February 1, 2012