NAPNAP Position Statement on the Prevention of Unintentional Injuries in Children

The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) promotes optimal health for children through advocacy and education. One mechanism for achieving this goal is the adoption of injury prevention strategies. NAPNAP believes that unintentional injuries are not “accidents” but are phenomena that may be predicted and prevented by changing environments, behaviors, products, social norms, laws, and health care policies.

Childhood injury claims more lives than all childhood diseases combined. Unintentional injury is the leading cause of medical spending for children ages 5 to 14 years ( Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2004 ), with identified disparities in injury rates between White and minority children ( Hayes & Groner, 2005 ). Furthermore, unintentional injury of children negatively affects their quality of life. The most frequent causes of unintentional injury among U.S. children are motor vehicle collisions ( Glassbrenner, 2005 ) and falls, together accounting for almost 40% of unintentional injuries to U.S. children annually ( CDC, 2007 ). Yet, it has been estimated that effective intervention strategies can prevent as many as 90% of unintentional injuries ( National SAFE KIDS Campaign, 2004 ). Given the great burden of these injuries on the health of American children, NAPNAP recommends that health care providers use every health care visit as an opportunity to discuss injury prevention strategies with children and parents or caregivers and to advocate for safer environments and products for children.