Latest Stats Highlight Pacific Child Injuries - Safekids
Latest Stats Highlight Pacific Child Injuries - Safekids
Latest Stats Highlight Pacific Child Injuries - Safekids
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<strong>Pacific</strong> children tend to be disproportionately over-represented in trauma<br />
statistics. This is according to <strong>Safekids</strong> latest factsheet on <strong>Pacific</strong> Peoples<br />
unintentional child injuries in New Zealand, and highlighted at the 4 th Kids<br />
Trauma Conference held at Auckland City Hospital in May 2010.<br />
<strong>Safekids</strong>’ Factsheet: <strong>Pacific</strong> <strong>Child</strong> Unintentional <strong>Injuries</strong>, released at the<br />
Conference, stated that at least eight <strong>Pacific</strong> children die every year due<br />
to unintentional injuries, and almost 3 children (2.5 average) are injured<br />
severely enough to be hospitalised every day.<br />
“Unintentional child injuries are a major injury issue for our <strong>Pacific</strong><br />
people, as <strong>Pacific</strong> Peoples are a youthful population group,” said Moses<br />
‘Alatini, <strong>Safekids</strong> New Zealand Policy Analyst and author of the <strong>Pacific</strong><br />
factsheet.<br />
Figures from the 2006 Census show that 38 percent of <strong>Pacific</strong> Peoples<br />
were under the age of 15 years, compared to the 22 percent of the overall<br />
New Zealand population.<br />
Suffocation and Drowning were the leading causes of deaths. It was<br />
also shown that child hospital admissions for unintentional non-transport<br />
injuries were significantly higher for <strong>Pacific</strong>, than any other ethnic group.<br />
These injuries include inanimate mechanical forces (struck by or against<br />
an object, cutting and piercing injuries, etc.).<br />
At the conference, <strong>Safekids</strong>, together with a panel of clinical experts and<br />
government representatives, called for a more coordinated sector-wide<br />
approach to addressing these high child trauma admission rates (See<br />
related story on Page 6).<br />
“Information on <strong>Pacific</strong> childhood injuries from both the conference and<br />
the factsheet draw attention to factors which place our <strong>Pacific</strong> children at<br />
higher risk, as well as to the importance of interventions that are culturally<br />
appropriate,” said Ann Weaver, Director of <strong>Safekids</strong> New Zealand.<br />
The use of ethnic-related data in terms of policy making, practical<br />
experience and capacity building was also highlighted.<br />
NEWS<br />
<strong>Safekids</strong> – a service of Starship <strong>Child</strong>ren’s Health<br />
June 2010 Issue No 49<br />
<strong>Latest</strong> <strong>Stats</strong> <strong>Highlight</strong> <strong>Pacific</strong> <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Injuries</strong><br />
“As an injury prevention workforce, our success lies in being able to work<br />
across cultures and in being able to create interventions that are culturally<br />
effective for <strong>Pacific</strong> Peoples, Mäori and other ethnic groups,” Ann said.<br />
For more information on <strong>Safekids</strong>’ <strong>Pacific</strong> <strong>Child</strong> Unintentional <strong>Injuries</strong><br />
Factsheet, go to Page 6.<br />
<strong>Safekids</strong> Campaign 2010/ 2011 Resources focusing on <strong>Child</strong> Passenger<br />
Safety/ <strong>Child</strong> Restraints and Burns Prevention/ Fire Safety are now<br />
available to be ordered. For more information, see Page 7.<br />
What’s inside:<br />
2010 IP Workshops Underway (Photos) Page 3<br />
<strong>Pacific</strong> Forum & <strong>Pacific</strong> Resources Page 4<br />
WHO’s <strong>Child</strong> Injury Prevention Agenda Page 5<br />
Trauma Update; <strong>Pacific</strong> <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Injuries</strong> Page 6<br />
2010/ 2011 Campaign Resources Page 7<br />
<strong>Safekids</strong> Coalition Events Page 8-10<br />
Injury Issue: Driveway Run Over Injury Page 11<br />
Info Centre Update: Mandatory & Voluntary Standards Page 12<br />
1<br />
<strong>Safekids</strong> News: June 2010 Issue No 49
Talofa Lava, Kia Orana, Mälö e lelei, Fakaalofa Lahi Atu,<br />
Ni Sa Bula Vinaka.<br />
Warm <strong>Pacific</strong> Greetings<br />
Welcome to the June edition of <strong>Safekids</strong> News, focusing on <strong>Pacific</strong><br />
People’s unintentional child injury. Our ethnic communities are growing<br />
in both size and diversity, making us a vibrant, multicultural nation. The<br />
<strong>Pacific</strong> Peoples community, as an example, comprises more than 20<br />
Polynesian, Melanesian and Micronesian ethnic groups, with an even<br />
greater number of languages.<br />
This presents a huge challenge to injury prevention workers, and is why<br />
getting ethnic specific data (See Page 6, <strong>Pacific</strong> <strong>Child</strong> Unintentional<br />
<strong>Injuries</strong>) is important to identify what injury issues affect our children, and<br />
for use in creating culturally-effective interventions.<br />
Our <strong>Safekids</strong> Campaign Information & Planning Workshop 2010 series<br />
has also started (Page 3), with 21 workshops scheduled into July. <strong>Pacific</strong><br />
Peoples and Maori-focused workshops are scheduled, and we hope to<br />
share and learn more about keeping our <strong>Pacific</strong> children and Tamariki<br />
Mäori safe.<br />
Finally, June marks the launch of our year-long Burns Prevention<br />
Campaign and the second year of the <strong>Child</strong> Passenger Safety Campaign.<br />
New resources are now available (Page 7), and information on the<br />
campaign themes can be found in <strong>Safekids</strong> News, at the workshops and<br />
at www.safekids.org.nz.<br />
Sincerely,<br />
Ann Weaver<br />
Director<br />
<strong>Safekids</strong> New Zealand<br />
Aldo Farina Award for Dr. Hassall<br />
Kiwi paediatrician Dr. Ian Hassall, who has dedicated his career to<br />
championing children’s rights in New Zealand, was honoured recently<br />
with the prestigious Aldo Farina Award in Seoul—an International UNICEF<br />
award recognising sustained contribution to child rights advocacy.<br />
Dr Hassall has been one of the strongest voices to advocate for children<br />
in the country. He was our first <strong>Child</strong>ren’s Commissioner and led some<br />
of New Zealand’s most innovative initiatives, including swimming pool<br />
fencing to prevent drowning, and research to prevent Sudden Infant<br />
Death.<br />
“This award is a well deserved recognition for his numerous achievements<br />
which have endeared Dr. Hassall to the child safety community in<br />
New Zealand. Congratulations Ian” said Ann Weaver, Director of <strong>Safekids</strong>.<br />
For more information about Dr. Ian Hassall and the Aldo Farina Award,<br />
visit:<br />
www.unicef.org (search “aldo farina”)<br />
<strong>Safekids</strong> News is <strong>Safekids</strong> NZ’s quarterly publication.<br />
For enquiries, contact the editor at anthonyr@adhb.govt.nz.<br />
<strong>Safekids</strong> News encourages discussion within the injury prevention<br />
community. Opinion articles or articles with bylines reflect the views of<br />
the author alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views of <strong>Safekids</strong><br />
New Zealand<br />
About <strong>Safekids</strong> New Zealand<br />
<strong>Safekids</strong> New Zealand is the injury prevention service of Starship<br />
<strong>Child</strong>ren’s Health and a member of Safe Kids Worldwide. Our mission<br />
is to reduce the incidence and severity of unintentional injuries to New<br />
Zealand’s children aged 0 - 14 years.<br />
<strong>Safekids</strong> NZ Team<br />
Ann Weaver, Director<br />
Anthony Rola, Marketing & Communications<br />
Gina Wong, PA to the Director<br />
Julie Chambers, Senior Advisor<br />
Moses ‘Alatini, Policy Analyst<br />
Simone Randle, Injury Prevention Advisor<br />
Wayne Carter, Information Specialist<br />
Make a difference<br />
<strong>Safekids</strong> New Zealand encourages the involvement of government,<br />
community, industry, decision makers and families in child safety. If you<br />
would like to know more about us, wish to advocate on behalf of children<br />
in your community, or partner in a programme with us, contact us at:<br />
<strong>Safekids</strong> New Zealand<br />
Fifth Floor, Cornwall Complex,<br />
40 Claude Road, Epsom, Auckland 1023<br />
PO Box 26488, Epsom, Auckland 1344<br />
New Zealand.<br />
Telephone: +64-9 630 9955<br />
Fax: +64-9-630 9961<br />
www.safekids.org.nz<br />
2<br />
<strong>Safekids</strong> News: June 2010 Issue No 49
NEWS AND EVENTS<br />
2010 Workshops Underway<br />
The <strong>Safekids</strong> Campaign Information & Planning Workshops focusing on<br />
Burns Prevention/ Fire Safety and <strong>Child</strong> Passenger Safety/ promotion of<br />
<strong>Child</strong> Restraints and booster seats are underway.<br />
The first workshop was held in Kaitaia in April and featured strong<br />
representation from local Mäori providers. “Aside from sharing new<br />
information about the new campaign themes, there was great discussion<br />
about child injury issues affecting their community and whanau. Our<br />
sincere thanks to Kaitaia Coalition Leader Sandra Hei Hei and Kiri Sloane<br />
for organising the event,” said Ann Weaver, Director of <strong>Safekids</strong> New<br />
Zealand.<br />
Rodney<br />
For the months of June and July, workshops will be held in Palmerston<br />
North, Lower Hutt, Invercargill, Dunedin, Christchurch, Greymouth,<br />
Nelson, Auckland/ Manukau and New Plymouth.<br />
For schedules and to attend a workshop near your area, visit:<br />
www.safekids.org.nz/index.php/page/Workshops2010<br />
Gisborne<br />
Whakatane<br />
Taupo<br />
Waitakere<br />
Hastings<br />
Hamilton<br />
Whangarei<br />
June <strong>Pacific</strong> & Mäori Workshops<br />
The Auckland <strong>Pacific</strong> Peoples (June 22) and Mäori-focused (June 23)<br />
<strong>Child</strong> Injury Prevention Workshops are now open for registration.<br />
The <strong>Pacific</strong> Workshop is in partnership with Injury Prevention Network<br />
of Aotearoa New Zealand and Auckland City Council. Attendees can<br />
expect good representation from <strong>Pacific</strong> community and child health<br />
workers, presentations from injury prevention organisations and experts<br />
which include Starship Emergency Department Director Dr. Michael<br />
Shepherd, and the latest injury information and interventions targeting<br />
<strong>Pacific</strong> children.<br />
Rotorua<br />
To register for the workshops, contact:<br />
Mosesa@adhb.govt.nz (<strong>Pacific</strong> Workshop)<br />
Hineamaru.ropati@acc.co.nz (Mäori Workshop)<br />
3<br />
<strong>Safekids</strong> News: June 2010 Issue No 49
PACIFIC PEOPLES CHILD INJURY<br />
<strong>Pacific</strong> Forum: Faifaimälie na’a Tamaki<br />
ha tu’amelie<br />
This Tongan proverb can be interpreted as; take safe and careful actions to<br />
avoid preventable injuries to your loved ones. This was the theme of the <strong>Pacific</strong><br />
Safety and Unintentional Injury Prevention Forum in February.<br />
Held at the Tongan Methodist Church of Mangere Lotofale’ia, the forum targeted<br />
<strong>Pacific</strong> church and community leaders in the Counties-Manukau area and<br />
discussed efficient and culturally appropriate ways to deliver injury prevention<br />
programmes or interventions to <strong>Pacific</strong> People.<br />
Forum attendees heard presentations on the cost of injury, injury statistics, child<br />
car restraints, <strong>Pacific</strong> motor vehicle speeding initiatives, driveway runovers,<br />
road policing, walking school buses and water safety education.<br />
The event was an initiative driven by Injury Free Counties-Manukau <strong>Pacific</strong><br />
Coordinator Alisi Katoanga, in partnership with ACC, Statistics NZ and <strong>Safekids</strong><br />
NZ.<br />
IP <strong>Pacific</strong> Champion<br />
Name: Pepe Sapolu-Reweti<br />
Title: IPNANZ <strong>Pacific</strong> Manager<br />
About Pepe: My mother Teu left<br />
Samoa in the late 1940’s for New<br />
Zealand. I come from the villages<br />
of Fa’atoia and Vaiala. My father<br />
Arthur is palagi of German and Irish<br />
parentage. I was a kindergarten<br />
teacher, social worker and worked in<br />
the health and education sectors in<br />
Auckland and Samoa before joining<br />
<strong>Safekids</strong> in 2004 and IPNANZ in 2008<br />
as the <strong>Pacific</strong> manager.<br />
What’s your current role? My position involves promoting injury<br />
prevention within our <strong>Pacific</strong> communities, influencing decision makers,<br />
and mentoring <strong>Pacific</strong> IPNANZ members in their injury prevention roles.<br />
We should all show concern about the high injury statistics for <strong>Pacific</strong><br />
and Maori children, and applaud all the child safety coalitions tirelessly<br />
working throughout Aotearoa—Let’s all do our best to help reduce the<br />
incidence & severity of preventable injuries to children.<br />
What inspires you? Being a mother of three (Maruata, Talalelei, Amalia)<br />
and having a beautiful grandson (Maea) has highlighted the importance<br />
of keeping kids safe and injury-free. I’ve also made sure that what I’ve<br />
learned from my role, that I’ve share it with the people in my life, so much<br />
so that the family has affectionately given me the title ‘Aunty Pepe the<br />
injury prevention police’. I take it positively as it has impacted on the<br />
safety behaviours of my family and friends.<br />
4th Kids Trauma Conference<br />
Collaborative action to protect Mäori and <strong>Pacific</strong> children from injuries<br />
was the message coming out at the 4th Kids Trauma Conference in<br />
Auckland City Hospital in May.<br />
A multidisciplinary, scientific and educational meeting for workers in the<br />
fields of injury treatment, rehabilitation, research and prevention, the goal<br />
of the conference was to identify priorities and policy recommendations<br />
to reduce child trauma admission rates to Starship <strong>Child</strong>ren’s Health.<br />
Guest speakers included: John Angus, <strong>Child</strong>ren’s Commissioner;<br />
Pat Tuohy, Chief Advisor to Minister of Health, <strong>Child</strong> & Youth Health;<br />
Hinemoa Elder, <strong>Child</strong> and Adolescent Psychiatrist; Teuila Percival,<br />
paediatrician at Kidz First Hospital and vice president of the Pasifica<br />
Medical Association.<br />
<strong>Pacific</strong> Online Resources<br />
<strong>Safekids</strong>’ <strong>Pacific</strong> Peoples Safety Topic Page features a collection of<br />
online resources available in <strong>Pacific</strong> languages. It also has a listing of<br />
events, the new <strong>Pacific</strong> Injury factsheet, Position Papers, Data and links.<br />
To visit the page, go to:<br />
www.safekids.org.nz/index.php/page/<strong>Pacific</strong>_Peoples<br />
<strong>Pacific</strong> Pedestrian Safety<br />
According to <strong>Safekids</strong><br />
research, <strong>Pacific</strong> and Maori<br />
preschoolers are at greater<br />
risk of being killed or injured<br />
as child pedestrians. The<br />
Pedestrian Safety Education<br />
Kit is aimed at <strong>Pacific</strong> early<br />
childhood education centres,<br />
and developed in line with<br />
the Ministry of Education’s<br />
Te Whäriki Early <strong>Child</strong>hood<br />
Curriculum.<br />
It includes a large format flipchart<br />
with photos of families<br />
in situations that generate<br />
discussions (at pedestrian<br />
crossings, ‘sneaky’ driveways,<br />
play areas, child restraint<br />
use, bike helmet use, and in<br />
parking lots) and teaching<br />
notes.<br />
To download a PDF of the kit<br />
and for other <strong>Pacific</strong> resources, visit:<br />
www.safekids.org.nz/index.php/page/<strong>Pacific</strong>_Peoples<br />
4<br />
<strong>Safekids</strong> News: June 2010 Issue No 49
ADVOCACY MATTERS<br />
<strong>Child</strong> Injury Prevention<br />
Now on WHO’s Agenda<br />
By Julie Chambers, <strong>Safekids</strong> Senior Advisor<br />
Hooray! <strong>Child</strong> injury prevention has been included on the agenda<br />
of the 127th World Health Organisation’s (WHO) powerful Executive<br />
Board meeting in Geneva.<br />
Why the fuss? WHO is the agency that directs and co-ordinates<br />
United Nations Public Health programmes and (most importantly)<br />
their funding. The Board consists of qualified representatives from<br />
member countries, and New Zealand is at the table.<br />
While this is good news, the agenda’s report makes sobering<br />
reading:<br />
“By the time children reach five years of age, unintentional injuries<br />
are the biggest threat to their survival … each day the lives of more<br />
than 2000 families are irrevocably changed … . The five leading<br />
causes of child death from injury among children of all ages, in order<br />
of magnitude are: road traffic injuries, drowning, fire related burns,<br />
falls and poisoning.”<br />
The report does have positive news (preventing the injury of children<br />
is possible), and successful interventions listed are familiar to<br />
our injury prevention workforce -- reduced traffic speeds around<br />
schools, enforcing laws on drink driving, cycle and motorbike<br />
helmets, seatbelts and child car seats, fencing swimming pools,<br />
Photo of the 126th WHO Executive Board Meeting.<br />
smoke alarms, and laws to reduce hot tap water temperatures-- are some of<br />
those mentioned.<br />
The report also contains a wide range of recommendations for improving<br />
outcomes in child injury. The next step for advocacy is to watch for the<br />
outcome. Thanks to Jean Simpson, Injury Prevention Research Unit; Otago<br />
University for her heads up.<br />
To download the WHO Secretariat’s report on <strong>Child</strong> Injury Prevention for the<br />
127th Executive Board Session, go to:<br />
http://apps.who.int/gb/e/e_eb127.html<br />
THE GOOD<br />
Taupo, for gaining ‘International Safe District’ accreditation and Rotorua<br />
for being awarded International Safe Community status – Congratulations!<br />
Waikato DHB for the successful launch of the Midlands Trauma System.<br />
New World Supermarkets for pulling a TV commercial with children<br />
playing with a treadmill-- known to cause serious injuries to children.<br />
THE BAD<br />
Invoice Scams. Scams that target councils and child health agencies,<br />
and involves someone posing as a charity or a worthy community group,<br />
billing for advertising which was not ordered. This illegal practice is<br />
known as "pro forma invoicing." For a list of publications known to be<br />
scams, tips to avoid being scammed, and what to do if this happens to<br />
you, visit:<br />
www.consumer.org.nz/reports/scams/invoicing-scams<br />
Taking the Pool to the Schools<br />
WaterSafe Auckland (WAI) announced Pools2Schools TM , an innovative<br />
solution to schools who have difficulty accessing facilities to teach kids<br />
life-saving water safety skills.<br />
Pools2Schools TM provides a fully compliant portable swimming pool<br />
system which can be installed on site, with staff training and literacy and<br />
numeracy packages that links to aquatic education.<br />
The first to benefit from Pools2Schools TM is Papakura’s Red Hill Primary,<br />
a decile 1 school which has a largely <strong>Pacific</strong> and Maori roll. Red Hill<br />
struggles to offer aquatic education due to the cost of bussing the kids to<br />
the pools on top of pool entry fees.<br />
For more information, visit:<br />
www.watersafe.org.nz (search “pools to schools”)<br />
THE NUMBER 1 72 7 8<br />
359<br />
5<br />
09<br />
4<br />
0<br />
6<br />
3<br />
901—The average number of <strong>Pacific</strong> Peoples children injured<br />
severely enough to be hospitalised each year. This is equivalent to about<br />
3 classrooms full of <strong>Pacific</strong> children injured every month.<br />
Prevent falls: Change babies on the floor<br />
Falls is a leading cause of injury to<br />
<strong>Pacific</strong> and Mäori children. One<br />
serious injury mechanism is when<br />
babies fall off changing tables.<br />
Safety Tip: The safest place to<br />
change babies is on the floor.<br />
For more falls information, visit:<br />
www.safekids.org.nz/index.php/page/Falls<br />
5<br />
<strong>Safekids</strong> News: June 2010 Issue No 49
TRAUMA TEAM UPDATE<br />
<strong>Pacific</strong> <strong>Child</strong>ren Admissions:<br />
Unintentional Injury Causes<br />
Data supplied by Rangi Dansey, Starship <strong>Child</strong>ren’s Health and interpreted<br />
by Simone Randle, <strong>Safekids</strong> New Zealand Injury Prevention Advisor<br />
In the three year period 2007 to 2009, 605 1 children of <strong>Pacific</strong> Island<br />
ethnicity were admitted to Starship <strong>Child</strong>ren’s hospital as a result of an<br />
unintentional injury. This equates to 201 <strong>Pacific</strong> children each year.<br />
Almost two thirds of unintentional injury admissions were boys. Preschool<br />
children and children aged 5 to 9 years were also more frequently<br />
injured (See Table 1).<br />
<strong>Child</strong>ren aged 0 to 4 years: Between 2004 and 2008, falls were the<br />
leading cause of unintentional injury hospitalisation for all New Zealand<br />
children aged 0 to 4 years old. Falls accounted for 39% of admissions.<br />
Starship unintentional injury admissions for <strong>Pacific</strong> children in this age<br />
group are markedly different. <strong>Injuries</strong> coded as ‘Caught Accidentally<br />
In or Between Objects’ were the leading cause, accounting for 35% of<br />
unintentional injury admissions. Falls were the second leading cause<br />
accounting for 31% of unintentional injury admissions. 2<br />
Of injuries coded as ‘Caught Accidentally In or Between Objects’, 77<br />
children (92%) were injured when their fingers were shut in doors or<br />
crushed in door hinges.<br />
<strong>Child</strong>ren aged 5 to 9 years: Falls were the leading cause of unintentional<br />
injury admission to Starship for <strong>Pacific</strong> children aged 5 to 9 years<br />
accounting for 51% of admissions for this age group. More than half<br />
(51%) of all fall related admissions occurred on playground equipment.<br />
‘Striking Against/ Struck Accidentally’, was the second leading cause of<br />
unintentional injury admission to Starship. These injuries typically resulted<br />
from children’s play and involved running, colliding, impacts and falling<br />
against objects causing injury.<br />
As with pre-school children, injuries coded as ‘Caught Accidentally In or<br />
Between’, were predominantly due to fingers caught in doors.<br />
<strong>Child</strong>ren aged 10 to 14 years: For <strong>Pacific</strong> children aged 10 to 14 years,<br />
falls were the leading cause of unintentional injury admission to Starship.<br />
‘Striking Against/ Struck Accidentally’ was the second leading cause of<br />
admission; ‘striking’ injuries mainly occurred through sporting activities.<br />
Table 1: Starship unintentional injury admissions for <strong>Pacific</strong> children by gender and<br />
age, 2007-2009<br />
Admissions<br />
Boys 376 62%<br />
Girls 229 38%<br />
Percentage<br />
00-04 Years 239 40%<br />
05-09 Years 218 36%<br />
10-14 Years 148 24%<br />
Total admissions 605 100%<br />
Table 2: Starship unintentional injury admissions for <strong>Pacific</strong> children by age and injury type, 2007-2009 (top seven causes)<br />
00-04 Years No 05-09 Years No 10-14 Years No<br />
Caught Accidentally In or Between Objects 84 Falls 111 Falls 59<br />
Falls 75 Striking Against/ Struck Accidentally 26 Striking Against/ Struck Accidentally 44<br />
Striking Against/Struck Accidentally 18 Caught Accidentally In or Between Objects 25 Pedal Cycle (non-traffic) 10<br />
Struck Accidentally by Falling Object 11 Cutting Object Accident 12 Cutting Object Accident 10<br />
Cutting Object Accident 11 MTV Pedestrian 10 MVT Pedestrian 6<br />
MVT occupant 9 MVT Occupant 9 MVT Occupant 5<br />
Driveway 8 Pedal Cycle (non-traffic) 9 Struck Accidentally by Falling Object 3<br />
1<br />
Excludes intentional causes and injuries coded as unspecified.<br />
2<br />
NZHIS data, Injury Prevention Research Unit, University of Otago,<br />
accessed May 2010.<br />
Using the <strong>Pacific</strong> <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Injuries</strong> factsheet<br />
By Moses ‘Alatini - <strong>Safekids</strong> Policy Analyst<br />
The <strong>Pacific</strong> factsheet has been created as a resource tool that could<br />
be used by <strong>Safekids</strong> coalition members, injury prevention practitioners,<br />
the media, government/ non-government agencies, or anybody with an<br />
interest in child injury prevention.<br />
To download the Factsheet, visit:<br />
www.safekids.org.nz/index.php/page/<strong>Pacific</strong>_Peoples<br />
Here are a few examples of what the factsheet could be used for:<br />
• a one-stop-shop for <strong>Pacific</strong> unintentional child injury facts,<br />
figures and research<br />
• to advocate for <strong>Pacific</strong> child unintentional injury issues<br />
• in an assignment or project<br />
• in policy writing<br />
• in strategic planning<br />
• in putting a submission together,<br />
• in providing information for the media.<br />
• in applications for funding<br />
The <strong>Pacific</strong> factsheet was recently used in TVNZ’s Tagata Pasifika.<br />
To view this clip, visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtzxrVorKQk<br />
6<br />
<strong>Safekids</strong> News: June 2010 Issue No 49
THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Resources<br />
2010/2011 Campaign Themes:<br />
Burns, <strong>Child</strong> Passenger Injury<br />
July marks the launch of the year-long campaign focusing<br />
on Burns Prevention/ Fire Safety, and the second year of<br />
the <strong>Child</strong> Passenger Safety Campaign promoting child<br />
restraints and booster seats.<br />
The <strong>Safekids</strong> Campaign is a child safety initiative in<br />
partnership with the Starship Foundation and the Ministry<br />
of Health, and is sponsored this year by the organisations<br />
whose logos appear here.<br />
Burns is a leading cause of injury for young children. Of 1<br />
to 2 year olds admitted to hospital due to severe burns,<br />
over half are caused by spilt hot drinks (tea and coffee)<br />
and other liquids (soups and noodles).<br />
In partnership with:<br />
Order now:<br />
New Campaign Resources<br />
There are many ways you can use <strong>Safekids</strong> resources. Judy<br />
Sibbe of Public Health South uses them in their resource<br />
centre where they are accessed by nurses, teachers,<br />
students and members of the community. Hori Brown of<br />
Coast to Coast PHO distributes them at Marae, Kohanga<br />
Reo and Kohungahunga.<br />
<strong>Safekids</strong> Campaign 2010/ 2011 resources focusing on<br />
burns prevention/ fire safety and child passenger safety/<br />
child restraints and booster seats are FREE and now<br />
available.<br />
To download an order form, visit:<br />
www.safekids.org.nz/index.php/page/campaigns<br />
For children 0-14 years, one of the leading causes of<br />
injury involves children as passengers in motor vehicles,<br />
with about 16 deaths a year and the equivalent of one<br />
classroom-full (26) of children admitted to hospital a<br />
month.<br />
“The <strong>Safekids</strong> Campaign is an opportunity for practitioners,<br />
agencies, community groups, media, volunteer services<br />
and organisations to receive up-to-date information, data<br />
and new resources on the injury issues,” said Ann Weaver,<br />
Director, <strong>Safekids</strong> New Zealand.<br />
“The good news is that the majority of childhood injuries<br />
are preventable. The challenge for injury prevention is to<br />
give our children a chance to live a happy and normal life,<br />
free from preventable injuries.”<br />
For more information on the 2010/ 2011 <strong>Safekids</strong><br />
Campaign, visit:<br />
www.safekids.org.nz/index.php/page/campaigns<br />
www.safekids.org.nz/index.php/page/Workshops2010<br />
The <strong>Safekids</strong> Campaign is also supported this year by IPNANZ, The Ministry of<br />
Transport, National Burns Service, Nga Mahi Kia Tupato, NZ Fire Service, NZ<br />
Police, NZIPS, Office of the <strong>Child</strong>ren’s Commissioner, Plunket, Rural Women, Safe<br />
Waitakere Injury Prevention, and <strong>Safekids</strong> Coalitions across New Zealand.<br />
Have you brushed up on your<br />
Safer Journeys?<br />
The Ministry of Transport has released the Government’s<br />
road safety strategy to 2020, Safer Journeys. One of the<br />
aims is to increase the level of restraint use by achieving a<br />
correct use and fitting rate of 90% for child restraints, and<br />
make the use of booster seats the norm for children aged<br />
5 to 10.<br />
Booster Seats <strong>Highlight</strong>ed at<br />
KISS Conference<br />
More than 150 people gathered for Plunket's KISS (Kids in<br />
Safe Seats) Conference, New Zealand’s first child restraint<br />
conference in four years.<br />
Given the recent profile of crashes involving children and<br />
the announcement of the Ministry of Transport's Safer<br />
Journeys Strategy, KISS had particular relevance for child<br />
injury prevention workers involved in the promotion of<br />
booster seats.<br />
KISS Keynote Speaker Dr Kathryn Kruger, Executive<br />
Director of the Washington Safety Restraint Coalition,<br />
actively promoted booster seat use at the conference<br />
and in the media. Dr Kruger mentioned that all children in<br />
Washington less than eight years old must be restrained<br />
in child restraint systems, unless the child is four feet<br />
nine inches or taller. The equivalent height, promoted by<br />
<strong>Safekids</strong> is 148cm.<br />
To view a video or read articles on the KISS Conference<br />
and Dr. Kathy Kruger, visit:<br />
www.nzherald.co.nz<br />
(search: Sweet lesson on carseat safety)<br />
http://tvnz.co.nz/tv (search: Kathryn Kruger)<br />
Keep up to date and download the Safer<br />
Journeys strategy (“boosters” are on page 28).<br />
More information is also available at our website:<br />
www.transport.govt.nz/saferjourneys/<br />
www.safekids.org.nz/index.php/page/SaferJourneys<br />
7<br />
<strong>Safekids</strong> News: June 2010 Issue No 49
THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: <strong>Safekids</strong> Coalitions<br />
North Shore Sings the Road Safety Tune<br />
Using booster seats not only keeps you safe, it’s also fun to sing about as<br />
well.<br />
The North Shore City Council and ShoreSafe Injury Free organised a<br />
12-school musical road show in March, promoting booster seat campaign<br />
messages with a song and dance.<br />
The campaign features Booster Rooster and The Polka Dots singing The<br />
Booster Seat Song, aimed at educating kids about the safety benefits of<br />
using their booster seats.<br />
“Most children are out of<br />
booster seats too early<br />
as parents simply aren’t<br />
aware of the benefits<br />
of keeping them in one<br />
for longer. Our goal is<br />
to educate the kids so<br />
they can tell their parents<br />
what’s the safer way<br />
to travel,” said Angie<br />
Cheong, Road Safety Coordinator<br />
at North Shore<br />
City Council.<br />
In support of the Campaign, The Warehouse, Repco and Baby Factory<br />
provided booster seat and product discounts at the event.<br />
“We’d like to thank Mayor Andrew Williams, The Polkadots, Plunket, NZ<br />
Police, Brain Injury NZ, ShoreSafe, <strong>Safekids</strong> and all the North Shore schools<br />
that have participated,” Angie added.<br />
To watch the TVNZ ONE News coverage, visit:<br />
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/campaign-keep-kids-in-booster-seatslonger-3424810/video<br />
Coalition Champion<br />
Name: Angie Cheong<br />
Occupation: Road Safety Coordinator, North Shore City Council<br />
About Angie: I came from Malaysia 8 years ago with my family, and have been working in North Shore City<br />
Council for the last 7 years. I graduated with an MBA from Massey University in ‘05 and I like kayaking and<br />
tramping. I received a cup cake holder from my son for Mother’s Day—a clear message as to what my next area<br />
of study should be (I’ve yet to become NZ’s hottest baker!).<br />
What is your role? I started in the Traffic Enforcement Dept. in ’03, which while mostly customer service and<br />
administrative duties (taking calls from irate customers), taught me valuable lessons about working with people.<br />
With a previous events background, I decided to apply for the Road Safety Coordinator’s position. Through the<br />
years, this role has grown on me and I have developed a passion for serving the community.<br />
What motivates you? I believe that when I wake up every morning and go to work, however little or much that I<br />
can do, I know it makes a difference for the community and country in the area of road safety. Every life counts<br />
and everyone matters.<br />
8<br />
<strong>Safekids</strong> News: June 2010 Issue No 49
THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: <strong>Safekids</strong> Coalitions<br />
Booster Seat Message as Simple as 1-4-8<br />
Height is the simplest measurement to tell if a child is ready for an adult<br />
seatbelt. According to safety experts and some car manufacturers, if<br />
kids are under 148cm, they are safer in a booster seat.<br />
And in the Hawke’s Bay, Safe2Go Trainer Fiona Whaanga gave a height<br />
chart to local kindergartens, including Wycliffe Nga Tamariki Kindergarten<br />
in Napier.<br />
Waimakariri Road Safety Coordinator Chris Neason and Injury Prevention<br />
Waimakariri Coordinator Tessa Sturley used a Booster Rooster 148cm<br />
display at the Oxford A and P Show. “The height display and supporting<br />
information were well received and generated lots of conversations,”<br />
Chris said.<br />
To request Booster Rooster artwork to make a display, or height charts<br />
for your next booster event, email:<br />
Anthony.Rola@adhb.govt.nz<br />
At the Franklin Parents Centre jumble sale, organisers said it was a perfect<br />
opportunity to share booster seat information. “We set up a height chart<br />
next to the door for parents to measure their kids, and goodies bags with<br />
height charts were handed out to new members,” said Katherine Tetzlaff<br />
of Franklin Parents Centre.<br />
Waimakariri<br />
Franklin<br />
Hawke’s Bay<br />
Gisborne:<br />
Family Day with<br />
Booster Rooster<br />
Norma Hooks of Gisborne Plunket knows well the dangers of<br />
children using adult seatbelts when they are not ready. “<strong>Child</strong>ren<br />
who are in car accidents can get such horrific injuries if they are not<br />
correctly restrained.”<br />
In May the Gisborne Car Seat Coalition organised an education<br />
day for shoppers. “Parents received valuable safety messages, and<br />
mechanics were present to install anchor bolts.”<br />
“We also had Booster Rooster and kids just loved getting measured<br />
under his arms which showed the 148cm height—until they are that<br />
tall, they are safer in a booster seat,” Norma said.<br />
9<br />
<strong>Safekids</strong> News: June 2010 Issue No 49
THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: <strong>Safekids</strong> Coalitions<br />
Nelson Kids Says ‘Hi’ to<br />
Their Newest Star<br />
Nelson City Council, Tasman District Council and Nelson Plunket have<br />
added another colourful character to their child safety campaign—<br />
Booster Rooster the lap puppet.<br />
Created by a local craftsperson the lap puppet is designed to interact with<br />
kids and deliver important child restraint messages. “We’re blown away<br />
by how well the children respond to Booster Rooster”, said Margaret<br />
Parfitt, Nelson City Council Road Safety Coordinator.<br />
The puppet presentation is also supported by audio tapes, a script, a<br />
large pull-up height chart, a song and information kits that go home to<br />
parents.<br />
“Booster Rooster was a perfect sidekick to BuckleBear, who explains<br />
to kids that the back seat is the safest place to sit, as well as other safe<br />
passenger behaviours,” Margaret added.<br />
For more information about this resource, contact:<br />
Margaret.Parfitt@ncc.govt.nz<br />
Northland:<br />
Car Safety Messages at the Ngapuhi Festival<br />
The Plunket Mobile Bus Clinic was on tour for the Ngapuhi Festival 2010, providing valuable information on<br />
child passenger safety to over 30,000 people.<br />
Led by Plunket Northland Area Car Seat Manager Kylie Kelsen, a team of Safe2Go technicians and Plunket<br />
Car Rental Scheme Staff provided Booster Rooster resources and ran a competition to win a booster seat.<br />
“All people had to do was answer the phrase Until you’re ____cm tall you’re safer in a booster seat” (The<br />
answer is 148cm!).<br />
Manawatu Wanganui:<br />
Car Safety an International Message<br />
Plunket Car Rental Scheme Manager Veronica Fieldsend and her team<br />
of coordinators provided a truly international car seat workshop, with<br />
migrant parents from: Africa, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, China, Egypt,<br />
Holland, Hungary, India, Iran, Japan, Korea, Macedonia, Samoa, South<br />
Africa, Tonga and Ukraine as their audience.<br />
Each participant was taught how to install each type of car restraint and<br />
encouraged to ask questions. “Language was a barrier, but we were able<br />
to overcome this by making it a hands-on activity,” Veronica said.<br />
It was also a good learning experience for the team. “We found out that<br />
interactive learning is best, and the experience gave us an insight on the<br />
extent to which many migrant parents believed it was OK for their kids to<br />
travel in cars unrestrained,” Veronica said.<br />
Public Health Services Promoter Nigel Fitzpatrick said they are also<br />
running a public awareness/ media campaign targeting the wider<br />
Manawatu/ Wanganui community “because non-compliance and<br />
incorrectly installed car seats is an issue not limited to migrant parents.”<br />
“Making sure the straps are tight, the seat fits the child and car, tether<br />
straps are used, and they know where to get help—these are simple<br />
messages that will help all parents ensure their children travel safe,” Nigel<br />
said.<br />
10<br />
<strong>Safekids</strong> News: June 2010 Issue No 49
INJURY ISSUE: Driveway Run Over<br />
ONE News Report: Driveway Run Over <strong>Injuries</strong><br />
Every two weeks a child is hospitalised with serious injuries received<br />
from a vehicle driving on a private driveway in New Zealand. A further<br />
four children are killed annually, on average.<br />
Experts now are saying ‘enough is enough’ and Kiwis need to do<br />
something about it. TVNZ recently did a special report, interviewing<br />
paediatric surgeon Dr Mike Shepherd and <strong>Safekids</strong>’ Ann Weaver.<br />
To watch this report, visit:<br />
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/solutions-driveway-deathsreleased-3474198/video<br />
<strong>Pacific</strong> Driveway Resources<br />
<strong>Safekids</strong> <strong>Pacific</strong> driveway run over prevention resources were developed<br />
in response to a growing awareness of these often fatal off-road<br />
incidents. According to <strong>Safekids</strong>’ Home Driveway <strong>Injuries</strong> and Fatalities<br />
in the Auckland Region Factsheet, <strong>Pacific</strong> children and Maori Tamariki<br />
were over-represented in driveway runover injuries.<br />
Available in Samoan, Tongan, Mäori and English, the A3 poster and<br />
DLE pamphlet feature celebrity fathers (Samoan - Feleti Strickson-Pua,<br />
Tongan - Awen Guttenbeil, English – John Campbell, Maori - Pio Terei).<br />
It carries the message ‘Know where the kids are before getting in the car,<br />
there’s no going back’ and the checklist:<br />
✔<br />
✔<br />
✔<br />
CHECK for children before driving off.<br />
SUPERVISE children around vehicles – always.<br />
SEPARATE play areas from driveways.<br />
To order samples of the resource, or for more driveway runover injury<br />
information visit or email:<br />
Wayne.Carter@adhb.govt.nz.<br />
www.safekids.org.nz/index.php/page/Driveway_Runover<br />
West Coast: Community Owning the Driveway Message<br />
With driveway run over injuries in the headlines in the past months, the<br />
West Coast Coalition led by ACC’s Cathy Blincoe, Plunket’s Jody Fahey<br />
and Road Safety Coordinators Marg Bradley and Ivan Wilson organised<br />
a driveway run over activity at the local mall, with the goal of educating<br />
the community about child safety around cars.<br />
“With the support of the Council and the businesses, we closed off the<br />
street and invited people to experience a reversing vision demonstration<br />
where they saw how difficult it can be to see children behind the car,”<br />
said West Coast Road Safety Coordinator Ivan Wilson.<br />
For information on the driveway resource in the photo, email:<br />
officemanager@childsafety.co.nz<br />
11<br />
<strong>Safekids</strong> News: June 2010 Issue No 49
INFO CENTRE UPDATE:<br />
The <strong>Safekids</strong> Information & Resource Centre collects research and other<br />
material which adds to our knowledge about child injury and its prevention.<br />
In the last ‘Info Centre Update’ in the <strong>Safekids</strong> News of March, Issue 48,<br />
we listed several of New Zealand’s ‘mandatory’ standards, standards<br />
which are legislated for and enforced. In this ‘Update’ we describe the<br />
remaining current mandatory standards which relate to unintentional child<br />
injury prevention and list some of the key current ‘voluntary’ standards:<br />
MANDATORY CHILD RESTRAINT STANDARDS<br />
Land Transport Rule: Vehicle equipment 2004: Rule 32017 [<strong>Child</strong><br />
restraints].<br />
Wellington, Ministry of Transport: 2004.<br />
In New Zealand, certain child restraints standards are mandatory because<br />
they are referred to in this ‘Land Transport Rule’:<br />
http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/rules/docs/vehicle-equipment-2004.pdf<br />
See also: ‘About [Land Transport] Rules’:<br />
http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/rules/about/what-are-rules.html<br />
This Rule states: “The approved standards for child restraints are:<br />
(a) Australian Standard/ New Zealand Standard 1754 <strong>Child</strong> restraint systems<br />
for use in motor vehicles;<br />
(b) British Standard 3254 for adult seat belts, forward facing child safety<br />
seats and child harnesses;<br />
(c) British Standard AU185 for booster cushions;<br />
(d) British Standard AU202, Specification for rearwardfacing restraint systems<br />
for infants, for use in road vehicles;<br />
(e) UN/ECE Regulation No. 44, Uniform provisions concerning the approval<br />
of restraining devices for child occupants of power-driven vehicles (“<strong>Child</strong><br />
Restraint System”) (E/ECE324 E/ECE/TRANS/505/Add.43), Vehicle<br />
Equipment 9 27 February 2005;<br />
(f) Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 213, <strong>Child</strong> Restraint Systems;<br />
(g) Technical Standard for <strong>Child</strong> Restraints (Japan).”<br />
Reference number 9301<br />
Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1754: 2010 - <strong>Child</strong> restraint<br />
systems for use in motor vehicles.<br />
Wellington, Standards New Zealand: 2010.<br />
This Standard specifies the requirements for restraining devices for child<br />
occupants of passenger cars to reduce the risk of bodily injury in a vehicle<br />
impact. In particular when they are: properly selected, correctly installed and<br />
correctly adjusted, to reduce risk of bodily injury in a vehicle impact. The<br />
devices may also have application to other types of vehicles.<br />
The objective of the Standard is to provide minimum design, construction<br />
and performance requirements for child restraint systems in order to<br />
promote the provision of a high level of protection for children travelling in<br />
motor vehicles.<br />
Reference number 9353<br />
DROWNING PREVENTION/ POOLS<br />
New Zealand Standard: Safety barriers and fences around swimming<br />
pools, spas and hot tubs NZS 8500: 2006.<br />
Wellington, Standards New Zealand: 2006.<br />
This voluntary standard aims to provide clear guidance for the design and<br />
construction of safety barriers to restrict young children’s access to swimming<br />
and other pools, such as hot tubs, by setting out protective barriers such<br />
as fences, retaining walls and doors which will help to keep children safe.<br />
Drowning among one to four year olds is most prevalent in home swimming<br />
pools and New Zealand has the highest rate of youth drowning among OECD<br />
countries. Pool owners and territorial authorities wanted clearer directions to<br />
achieve compliance with safety obligations. The national Standard will give<br />
pool owners a better understanding of their responsibilities to ensure the<br />
safety of children.<br />
Government will be able to consider using the Standard as a replacement<br />
for the Schedule in the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987 by way of<br />
an amendment to the Act. It is this Act which currently makes swimming<br />
pool fencing mandatory.<br />
Reference number 8615<br />
OTHER VOLUNTARY STANDARDS<br />
Bunks<br />
AS/NZS 4220: 2010 Bunk beds and other elevated beds.<br />
Provides regulatory authorities with safety requirements, and manufacturers<br />
with functional, durability, stability and performance criteria to meet these<br />
safety requirements, in order to reduce the likelihood of death or injuries to<br />
children.<br />
Trampolines<br />
NZS 5855: 1997 Consumer safety specification for components,<br />
assembly, and use of a trampoline.<br />
Covers the components, assembly, citing and use of trampolines exceeding<br />
14,800 cm2 bed area designed for continuous vertical jumping activities and<br />
is intended to reduce the hazards associated with the use of such equipment.<br />
Identical to ASTM F381-95 with modifications for New Zealand.<br />
Prams and Strollers<br />
AS/NZS 2088: 2009 Prams and strollers - Safety requirements.<br />
Specifies the materials, construction, performance, and labeling requirements<br />
for prams, strollers, and their accessories.<br />
High Chairs<br />
British standard specification for safety requirements for children’s high<br />
chairs and multi-purpose high chairs for domestic use. NZS/BS 5799:<br />
1986.<br />
London, British Standards Institution: 1986.<br />
Safety requirements and methods of test for high chairs and multi-purpose<br />
chairs which may be convertible to low chairs, low chairs with tables, baby<br />
walking frames, pushchairs, swings, car chairs or reclining low chairs. Covers<br />
materials, construction, performance, marking and instructions.<br />
Reference number 4487<br />
Playgrounds<br />
New Zealand Standard NZS 5828: 2004- Playground equipment and<br />
surfacing.<br />
Wellington, Standards New Zealand: 2004.<br />
This standard specifies general safety requirements for playground<br />
equipment. These requirements have been laid down bearing in mind the risk<br />
factors based on available data. Additional specific safety requirements for<br />
specific pieces of playground equipment are specified in subsequent parts<br />
of the standard.<br />
Reference number 7647<br />
New Zealand handbook, general playground equipment and surfacing<br />
handbook - SNZ HB 5828.1: 2006.<br />
Wellington, Standards New Zealand: 2006.<br />
A guide for playground owners and operators to the New Zealand Standard<br />
for playground equipment and surfacing (NZS 5828: 2004). New Zealand has<br />
traditionally had one of the highest playground injury rates in the world. This<br />
handbook and the following handbook are intended for use with NZS 5828:<br />
2004 to help reduce these rates by presenting relevant, useful information in<br />
everyday terms.<br />
Reference number 8510<br />
New Zealand handbook, supervised early childhood facilities -<br />
playground equipment and surfacing handbook - SNZ HB 5828.2: 2006.<br />
Wellington, Standards New Zealand: 2006.<br />
A guide for playground owners and operators of supervised early childhood<br />
facilities to the New Zealand Standard for playground equipment and<br />
surfacing (NZS 5828 : 2004), this handbook is intended to assist people<br />
working specifically in supervised early childhood facilities licensed under<br />
the Education (Early <strong>Child</strong>hood Centres) Regulations 1998.<br />
Reference number 8511<br />
Contact us<br />
If you are interested in any of these items or the topics<br />
mentioned please contact the Information & Resource Centre<br />
on (09) 631 0724 or infocentre@safekids.org.nz. You can<br />
also ask to be put on the emailing list for KidsInfo Bulletin,<br />
our bulletin of selected child injury prevention-related items<br />
added to our collection (emailed out every two months). Our<br />
database can also be searched online at www.safekids.org.<br />
nz. We are always pleased to help with all your child injury<br />
prevention enquiries.<br />
12 www.safekids.org.nz<br />
<strong>Safekids</strong> News: June 2010 Issue No 49