4th June 2015
New national e-learning modules for health visitors on child safety are launched by the Institute of Health Visiting (iHV) during #ChildSafetyWeek which runs 1-7 June. Developed by Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) and iHV Fellow Amanda Whelan, professional lead for health visiting at Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, they are part of a wider programme of educational materials commissioned by Health Education England (HEE).
The two e-learning modules, underpinned by research, policy and practice guidance, are designed for health visitors to help reduce unintentional injuries to children under the age of 5 in and around the home. Serious accidents are a leading cause of severe childhood injury or acquired disability, and consequently also hospital attendance. Child safety is a priority public health area for health visitors working with families with pre-school children as accidents are very common but preventable.
Dr Cheryll Adams, director of the Institute of Health Visiting, said: “This new e-learning developed by the iHV with the CAPT is now available to all health visitors and their teams to upskill them for working with parents to help reduce common accidents such as head injuries, and burns and scalds.”
New findings released during #ChildSafetyWeek by CAPT show that teatime is dangerous for children – that’s when serious accidents peak. The end of the day spells the start of danger for children, with over half of all serious road accidents occurring between 3pm and 7pm, and children are also more than twice as likely to suffer a serious burn between 3pm and 6pm as they are during the morning.
The peak in serious burns reflects how, for many parents, teatime is when demands on their time is greatest. Hot drinks are by far the biggest danger, followed by burns from the iron, kettle, cooker and bath. Babies and toddlers are most at risk, making up nearly half of all child burn victims.
The peak in child road deaths and injuries is linked to the after-school rush. CAPT reports that there are more serious and fatal injuries to school-age pedestrians in the afternoon and early evening than at any other time of day.
Child Safety Week 2015 (which runs 1-7 June) offers health visitors an effective platform to engage with local families. It provides a focus for health visitors and their team members to raise awareness of serious childhood accidents and how to prevent them without parents feeling singled out. Health visitors can provide information to parents about the most serious accidents and the simple steps that parents can take to prevent them.
Dr Adams added: “Accident prevention is a public health priority and achievable if parents understand how accidents are directly related to the developmental age of their child and vulnerable times of the day.”
ENDS
For more information, please contact: Julie Cooper, communications and marketing manager at the Institute of Health Visiting on 07508 344716 or[email protected]
Notes to editors
About the new Child Safety e-learning modules
These two e-learning modules are developed by the iHV and the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) as part of a wider programme commissioned by Health Education England (HEE). They are designed especially for health visitors, and are underpinned by research, policy and practice guidance for reducing unintentional injuries to children under the age of 5 in and around the home, as well as existing NICE guidelines on this topic.
Each module takes about 45 minutes.
About the Institute of Health Visiting (iHV)
- The Institute of Health Visiting is a UK Centre of Excellence supporting the development of universally high-quality health visiting practice.
- It was launched on 28th November 2012 to promote excellence in health visiting practice to benefit all children, families and communities.
- The aim for the iHV is to raise standards in health visiting practice, so improving public health outcomes for all children, families and communities.
- For more information go to www.ihv.org.uk
- Follow the Institute of Health Visiting on Twitter @iHealthVisiting and Facebook
