It's Child Safety Week

CHILD SAFETY WEEK 22 - 28 JUNE 2009
This is the Child Accident Prevention Trust's (CAPT) flagship community education campaign. It aims to raise awareness of the number of accidents that tragically lead to serious injury or death of children and young people and how to prevent them. The theme for Child Safety Week 2009 is 'Safer together'.

Child Safety Week generates substantial media coverage for practical safety advice and – by providing free resources to community-based staff and organisations – acts as a catalyst for thousands of local safety activities and events, which reach millions of children and families UK-wide. It also opens doors to local partnership working, encouraging organisations to work together for child accident prevention.

Whether you are a parent, a teacher, childminder or working in a role that involves caring for children, we all have a part to play, no matter how small. By working together as a family, alongside parents, with community groups or directly with children we can protect children and young people from serious injury and death from preventable accidents.You may be planning something simple such as a talk for children about being safer when they are out and about, making simple changes at home such as keeping hot drinks or saucepans out of children’s reach, or organising a local event with fire safety officers' demonstrations of accident prevention, every little bit helps. Whatever your plans you can get the information and knowledge you need to make a difference.

Why Child Safety Week?
Accidents are one of the biggest childhood killers in the UK, with five children and young people dying every week. This is four times as many children as are killed by family abuse or neglect, and 12 times as many children as are killed by strangers.

Accidents also put more children in hospital than any other cause. Every week, over 2,000 children and young people are admitted to hospital because of their injuries. Many are left scarred for life or permanently disabled.
Children from less well-off families are particularly vulnerable – they are far more likely to be killed or admitted to hospital with serious injuries than their better-off counterparts.

However, many of these deaths and serious injuries can be prevented - and without wrapping children up in cotton wool. Child Safety Week helps people understand the real risks to children and the simple changes they can make to reduce those risks - so that children and young people can enjoy safer, healthier, more active lives.

For your free Child Safety Week resource pack email safe@capt.org.uk call 020 7608 3828 or write to Child Accident Prevention Trust, Canterbury Court (1.09), 1-3 Brixton Road, London SW9 6DE. More here.