At the end of May, the "Study on Accidents in the Spanish child population" was published by the Spanish Association of Primary Care Pediatrics (AEPap) and Mapfre Foundation. Following the publication of the report, a Decalogue for accident prevention was also made public, which we have already reviewed here.
The truth is that the study gives much, as information and as a starting point to reflect. Today I want to share with you the main conclusions of the work mentioned. For example In summer, one in three child accidents occur.
Although we also learned that about 10 percent of those under 12 years old are left alone at some time in their home
Yes, most families care about taking protective measures suitable for accident prevention in your children. But of course, in Spain, the third cause of death among children under 15 are accidents
In the report they have collaborated more than 200 primary care pediatricians, and the data of the most serious accident occurred in the last 12 months have been collected. 57.2 percent of the accidents occurred in school, park, garden, public roads; and 42.8% at home.
He emphasizes that the children with the most accidents are the second of two brothers, and the only children. Y 72 percent of the children needed medical attention, which they received mostly in a health center; Four percent were admitted to a hospital.
More accidents in summer
Fundación Mapfre also recommends being cautious, especially during the summer months (one in three accidents occur among the smallest). It's recommended keep protective measures at the vacation spot, and keep track of children in beaches and swimming pools.
18 percent of parents are unaware that in the event of an accident, emergency services should be requested through 112
Children alone at home
Regarding the first data we have mentioned, comment that experts consider that a child is mature to be left alone at home between the ages of nine and 12, and that our Criminal Code only typifies situations that could potentially be attributed to homelessness (I imagine that an excess of hours alone, or that parents are not at night ...). Of course, in my environment (and in one of you, I imagine) I know children who have been alone for six, seven and eight hours, and also others who are under that age from which we attribute certain maturity.
Exists relationship between age and leaving the child alone at home. The older the child, he stays home alone more often. But 5% of those left home alone are under 4 years old; On the other hand, there are significant differences between the average number of accidents in children who are left alone at home and the average of those who are not, being greater among children who remain alone at home.
In this post we gave advice to achieve safety in the event that children should be left alone, a situation that from my point of view is not appropriate, although I understand that there are times when families are excessively conditioned (working hours, lack of extended family, lack of resources to properly attend children who are already over 10 years old, etc).
Finally, I have to remember that necessary prevention, which we must take into account even more if possible in these months.
