Accident risk 'greatest for poor'

Road accidents were one of the major causes of accidental deaths

Children from the poorest families are five times more likely to die in accidents than those in the wealthiest families, research suggests.

The Health Development Agency looked at statistics for accidental deaths among children from birth to 14 in England and Wales between 1975 and 2000.

It found while unintentional deaths were falling, they were going down fastest among more affluent families.

Major causes were road accidents, house fires, drowning and falls, it said.

The HDA, which used data from hospitals admissions, government statistics, independent studies and the Office for National Statistics to compile the report, found the widest gulf in death rates were from deaths caused by house fires.

Equal protection

Despite widespread fears about poisoning and electrocution, annual deaths from these were in single figures.

HDA statistics for England and Wales showed 1,100 children died as a result of unintentional injures in 1979, compared to 261 in 2002.

We are pushing for houses to be designed in as safe a way as possible Roger Vincent Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents

Report author Professor Elizabeth Towner, from the University of the West of England, said the variation in death rates must be addressed.

"We need to work to develop an environment in which every child in this country, irrespective of social circumstance, is equally well protected from unintentional injury and death."

The report said a lack of safety equipment, exposure to hazardous environments and lack of supervision were to blame for the higher death rates among poorer families.

It also said poorer children were more likely to be forced to play on the street because of a lack of access to gardens.

Professor Mike Kelly, the HDA's director of evidence and guidance, said the findings should be used by authorities to develop better safeguards in homes and on the streets.

"This report provides a benchmark from which to develop interventions that are most likely to be successful not only in reducing further the numbers of unintentional injuries in children, but also helping to tackle the inequality between different areas of society."

Safety

Roger Vincent, of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Rospa), said there were a number of reasons why children from poorer families were more at risk.

"The homes of more disadvantaged families are older and tend not to have up-to-date safety facilities.

"Poorer families are less likely to be able to afford stair gates, locks and fire alarms.

"We are pushing for houses to be designed in as safe a way as possible."

He said another factor was that children from poorer families were more likely to be looked after by an older sibling or single parents.

"That is not to say they are negligent, but it is just that it is more difficult."

He said the government and organisations such as Rospa could help with campaigns to raise awareness about safety issues.