Issue 25, July 2004 - Safekids

Child
injury
prevention
Aotearoa
World Conference “Global Market of Scientific Ideas and Best Practice”
The opening ceremony of the 7th World Conference on Injury
Prevention and Safety Promotion heralded the start of a “global market
of scientific ideas and best practice” in injury prevention.
Around 1500 delegates attended the conference in Vienna, Austria
last month, including Safekids New Zealand staff. The conference
provided an opportunity for
representatives from more than 100
countries to discuss injury issues
around the globe and learn more
about research methods and trends.
During the opening ceremony
keynote speakers emphasised the need
for more comprehensive data
collection on injuries and their causes,
the strengthening of evidence-based
research to support projects, the
integration of injury prevention into
the international health curriculum,
collaboration across all sectors and
greater political commitment to
funding injury prevention.
Conference sessions and poster
presentations had three major themes
- road safety, child safety and
occupational and work safety.
Road Safety
Safekids New Zealand staff, who work to reduce the incidence and
severity of injuries to children under 15 years, attended a number of
sessions on road related injuries. Highlights included:
I N S I D E . . .
SAFEKIDS -
a child safety service of Starship Children's Health
Safekids New Zealand Director Ann Weaver with conference
attendees, Henrietta Bencevic from Croatia and Yi Ting
Wen from Taiwan, at the ‘poster walk’.
World Conference “Global Market of Scientific Ideas and Best Practice” ●●●Page
1
Safekids NZ Builds Worldwide Relationships ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●Page
2
World Health Day Recognises Global Road Toll ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●Page
3
Advocacy Matters ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●Page
4 & 5
Research Into Attitudes Shows Mixed Bag ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●Page
5
Action Update ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●Page
6 & 7
KidSafe Week 2004 ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●Page
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Information Centre Update ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●Page
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Issue 25 - July 2004
■ Information on global campaigns on traffic injury prevention with
examples of traffic safety campaigns in Malaysia.
■ A review of suicide and natural deaths in road traffic.
■ A study on population based epidemiology and side impact crashes.
Personal data from insurance company
claims was one of the variables added
to crash data information.
■ Oral presentations on research
studies in relation to child road traffic
safety, such as a review of 40
international ‘safe routes to school’
programmes.
■ A series of presentations on
pedestrian injuries and research
findings from studies such as caregiver
supervision, wearing visible enhancing
materials, bus commuter safety, and
changing vehicle structure to help
reduce the severity of pedestrian injury.
■ Three days of ‘poster presentations’
with more than 100 posters each day
on injury prevention and safety
promotion.
■ Workshops and plenary sessions also touched on a number of issues
relevant to both New Zealand and Safekids. These included the WHO
criteria for Safe Communities with emphasis on promoting safety at
the community level involving strategies for social mobilisation. Vienna
was accredited as a Safe Community during the conference.
Continued next page…
Safekids News is the official quarterly
publication of Safekids New Zealand - a child
safety service of Starship Children’s Health
PO Box 19544, Avondale, Auckland 7,
New Zealand
Tel: 64 9 820 1190
Fax: 64 9 820 1191
For editorial contributions or enquiries email
JoyGunn@adhb.govt.nz
Tel: 64 3 455 4242
Publication of contributed material is at the
discretion of Safekids.

continued from previous page
Capacity Building
Capacity building was also of interest to Safekids
New Zealand representatives who attended sessions
looking at various injury prevention training facilities
around the globe. Oral presentations were held on
cross-sectoral injury prevention strategies, with
examples such as supporting health promotion
through injury prevention training for polytech
students; the development of a safety strategy for
the Aboriginal community in NSW; the
development of a new degree course integrating
wellness, health promotion and injury prevention;
and developing competencies for injury prevention
training.
Education
During the conference a number of presentations
were held on injury prevention education from
around the world. Programmes presented included
a safety education classroom on wheels – similar
to the “Life Education Trust” vehicles in NZ, an
interactive computer game for adolescents based
on the use of alcohol and situated in an emergency
department in USA, and an interactive computer
flash game for families in China on home safety.
Evaluation
Evaluation of interventions was discussed at the
conference, with a number of examples provided
by speakers from various countries – including a
volunteer-based home visit programme, the
effectiveness of health education interventions on
unintentional suffocation and drowning to children
aged 0-4 in rural China, and a safety education
programme in the United Kingdom.
A series of oral sessions on community programmes
and cost / benefit evaluations covered a number of
topics. Among these were studies which had been
used to investigate stakeholder perceptions on an
injury issue; development of an integrated approach
among stakeholders; a range of projects involving
the 3Es (Engineering, Education and Enforcement)
in enhancing traffic safety; managing road safety
problems with regard to border crossings in central
Europe; a mobile photo radar programme; and a
pre-school children’s traffic club education project.
New Zealand had a definite presence at the
conference with Kiwis presenting their work in a
range of areas. Papers were presented by
representatives from Auckland University, the Otago
University Injury Prevention Research Unit, the
Land Transport Safety Authority and Waitakere
City.
Safekids New Zealand was one of the participants
in a ‘poster walk’ for delegates – demonstrating the
Spectrum of Prevention model it uses for its
programme development and work.
For copies of all conference abstracts visit
www.safety2004.info/final_programme.php
SAFEKIDS NZ BUILDS
WORLDWIDE RELATIONSHIPS
SAFE KIDS China displays its work
through the photo exhibition
organised by SAFE KIDS Worldwide.
Part of New Zealand’s contribution
to the SAFE KIDS Worldwide photo
exhibition at Vienna.
2
The 7th World Conference on Injury
Prevention held in Vienna provided
an opportunity for SAFE KIDS
Worldwide member countries,
including New Zealand, to meet. High
on the list of discussion topics for the
group were the common challenges
and successes shared when supporting
communities and delivering child
injury prevention programmes.
SAFE KIDS Worldwide
representatives from such diverse
locations as China, Australia, USA,
Israel, Brazil, Austria, Vietnam, South
Korea, and the Philippines, used the
World Conference on Injury
Prevention to further the Worldwide
organisation’s goals of strengthening
relationships, building new friendships
and providing opportunities for
member countries to learn about the
many and varied programmes
undertaken to keep children injury
free across the world.
A highlight of the group’s time in
Vienna was a photo exhibition of
SAFE KIDS’ activities around the
world in a glittering Vienna City Hall
Gallery. The exhibit was sponsored
by Safe Kids Austina, SAFE KIDS
Worldwide and Johnson & Johnson.
Safekids New Zealand was proud to
contribute to the poster exhibition
with photographs showing the use of
safety gates and fireguards to keep
children safe in the home.
SAFE KIDS Worldwide members from around the globe made the most of
Vienna to share information.

WORLD HEALTH DAY RECOGNISES GLOBAL ROAD TOLL
Children in Auckland City ‘played dead’ on the road as they portrayed
the grisly results of road related injuries and deaths. In other parts
of the country young drivers were targeted with safety messages and
New Zealand media were inundated with press statements about
what we, as a nation need to do to achieve a lower road toll.
All this activity and more was undertaken to promote the World
Health Organisation (WHO) Day on April 7 which focused on
Road Safety. The event marked the first time that the organisation
had targeted such an issue – and the milestone was commemorated
across the world.
The organisation’s goal was to raise awareness of the health impact
and social and economic costs of road traffic injuries, to highlight
vulnerabilities of certain groups of road users, and call for action to
increase efforts to prevent road traffic injuries.
And, this goal was achieved, not only here but globally. On May
22, the World Health Assembly and General Assembly unanimously
adopted Resolution WHA 57.10 on Road Safety – a direct result
of WHO Day. This Resolution accepted the invitation of WHO to
act as a co-ordinator in the UN system in collaboration with regional
It’s a fact! 1
■ It’s estimated that road crashes killed around 1.18 million people
worldwide in 2002, and injured about 20 to 50 million more.
■ By the year 2020, if current trends continue, road traffic injuries
will have risen by more than 60%, making them the third leading
contributor to the global burden of disease and injury worldwide.
■ Every day around 140,000 people are injured on the world’s roads.
More than 3,000 die, and some 15,000 are disabled for life.
■ Some 50% of road traffic fatalities worldwide involve young adults
aged 15-44 years – the most economically productive segment
of the population (the NZ figure is even higher, at 58%).
■ For adult men aged 15-44 years, traffic injuries rank second to
HIV/AIDS as the leading cause of ill health and premature death
worldwide (in NZ they rank second behind suicide).
■ Globally, according to conservative estimates, the annual costs of
road traffic injuries amount to approximately NZ$769 billion.
■ By 2020, if current trends continue, the annual numbers of road
traffic deaths and disabilities in high-income countries may have
decreased by as much as 30%. However, this gain could be
cancelled out by a 60% increase in road traffic deaths in low
income countries.
The New Zealand story 2
■ Since the first known fatal crash in Christchurch in 1908, more
than 34,000 people have lost their lives on our roads. The
deadliest year on our roads was 1973, when 843 people
were killed.
■ In the last 20 years, the social cost of crashes totalled $85
billion (June 2002 prices). Social costs are all costs that
are inflicted on the community – its material loss, pain,
suffering and the costs to emergency services and other
health providers.
■ In 2003 there were 460 deaths and around 14,000 injuries.
Drink-driving contributed to 30% and excessive speed to
35% of fatal crashes in 2003. Nearly 27% of the vehicle
occupants killed last year were not wearing safety belts.
■ If there were no future road safety interventions and the current
trends continued, by 2020 New Zealand’s yearly road toll could
be as high as 780 deaths and 24,000 reported injuries.
New Zealand has given road deaths a shot in the arm 2
■ New Zealand’s road fatality rate has come down by 37 percent
since 1990, in spite of significant increases in population, vehicles
and kilometres driven.
3
commissions. It urged member states to appoint focal points in
ministries of health to co-ordinate a public health response to road
traffic death and injury. It called for member states to undertake a
number of activities to reduce road deaths – including assessment
of national situations, preparation of national strategies, and
establishment of government leadership through a primary lead
agency and exploration of possible increased funding for strategies.
A full copy of the Resolution can be accessed at
http://www.who.intgb/ebwhapdf_files/WHA57/A57_R10-eng.pdf
In New Zealand, road traffic deaths were likened to an epidemic –
one that this country was giving a shot in the arm to with injury
prevention, education and enforcement programmes.
Both historically and currently these include police speed campaigns,
Land Transport Safety Authority advertising and education strategies,
driver education schemes, community road safety interventions and
a central government commitment to cyclists and pedestrians.
Safekids New Zealand supported WHO Day with a joint reminder
along with Plunket, for caregivers to ensure children are buckled up
each and every time they travel in a vehicle.
■ If education, enforcement and engineering measures had not been
introduced, and if fatality rates remained at 1990 levels, growth in
the vehicle fleet would have pushed annual deaths up from 729 in
1990 to an estimated 900 in 2002.
■ In 1997 NZ ranked 16th out of 28 OECD countries for deaths per
10,000 vehicles. We currently rank 11th - equal with Italy and
Finland and ahead of the United States, Ireland and Denmark.
1 Statistics supplied by the World Health Organisation
2 Statistics supplied by the Land Transport Safety Authority

ADVOCACY MATTERS
Housing New Zealand
Corporation Walks the Talk
In 1996 Safekids New Zealand prepared a report, Safe As
Houses – Recommendations for Childsafe Housing New
Zealand Homes, which provided New Zealand’s largest
rental agency, Housing New Zealand, with recommendations
about ways it could improve the safety of its homes for
residents under 15 years. This month Housing New Zealand’s
General Manager, Assets and Development Services, Greg
Orchard, reports on Housing New Zealand’s progress in
helping keep Kiwi kids ‘safe as houses’. He pays particular
attention to the steps undertaken to prevent burns to children
– an issue for Safekids in 2004.
Over the last three years, Housing New Zealand Corporation (HNZC)
has continued to improve child safety within our homes. This has
been achieved by aligning our acquisition and design criteria with
recommendations made in Safe as Houses? – Recommendations for
Childsafe Housing New Zealand Homes.
Opportunities for identifying and addressing potential injury hazards
have also arisen through HNZC’s Healthy Housing, Modernisation
and Energy Efficiency Retrofit programmes.
Improvements continue to be made as part of ongoing maintenance
and replacement activities.
Reflecting on KidSafe Week’s burns focus, here are some examples of
what HNZC has done over the past three years to make homes safer
for children:
■ Safe hot water delivery - HNZC has installed 4990 hot water
tempering valves.
■ Smoke detectors - HNZC has installed over 145,000 smoke detectors,
both new and replacements.
■ Smoke detectors are checked and tested every six months. If
faulty, they are generally repaired/replaced either immediately or
within 24 hours.
■ Over 25,000 properties have had the alarms cleaned and tested
in addition to the six monthly tests.
■ Between 1996 - when the Safekids report was received - and
2000, HNZC installed smoke detectors in all properties.
■ Hardwired alarms - A further 1092 permanently wired detectors to
HNZC properties have been installed.
■ Safe stoves - HNZC has installed approximately 6,435 anti-tip
brackets on stoves. The Corporation has also asked Electrolux to
design and manufacture a stronger bracket. This is scheduled to be
in use from July 2004.
■ HNZC Housing Specification – the following requirements help
prevent scalding and burns by being included in the HNZC Housing
Specification:
■ in houses with hot water tempering devices the hot water
temperature is set at a maximum 55 degrees at any hot water
outlet in the bathroom and shower
■ new stoves are installed with anti-tipping devices
■ fixed-fan electric heaters are installed in some living spaces.
4
Additional child safety features:
■ Safe glazing - HNZC has replaced 3,798 windows with safety glass
in 3,527 houses.
■ Fall-safe windows - HNZC has installed 110,946 security stays in
21,093 houses.
The Development Guide - Ensuring future HNZC homes are child safe
This document advocates well considered design that makes housing
safe and healthy for children, for example:
■ private outdoor spaces that have secure boundaries for children’s
play areas
■ a preference for separate showers and baths - curved baths are
dangerous for standing
■ kitchens off the circulation path
■ child safety locks on laundry/bathroom cupboards
■ sufficient power sockets to reduce use of extension cords
■ specified lighting levels, particularly for kitchens, bathrooms
and other task areas.
While the Guide is not new it emphasises principles of good design
for ongoing reference.
More positive changes to enhance health and safety in HNZC homes:
■ Interior painting - HNZC has changed its interior painting specification
to remove most volatile solvents from the paint used for all
decoration. In addition, the requirement for turpentine and other
poisonous/flammable solvents on-site is reduced to a very low
level. Use of acrylic paints will reduce the amount of volatile organic
compounds released inside HNZC properties by about 121,000
litres over three years. This will help children and others living in
newly painted houses to breathe without inhaling solvents emitted
by enamel paints. Those suffering from asthma will find this reduces
their symptoms.
■ Mould - All repainted ceilings will now use Mouldshield, an acrylic
paint expected to significantly reduce the incidence of mould on
ceilings. Mould can aggravate some respiratory complaints.
HNZC continues to “walk the talk” in child safety, by providing and
taking opportunities to improve health and safety within our homes.
Part of this commitment to children is in their continued working
relationship with Safekids New Zealand.
Safekids Applauds
Canadian Baby Walker Ban
In March, Canada became the first country to ban the
importation, advertising and sale of babywalkers – a move
Safekids New Zealand applauds wholeheartedly.
Since 2000, Safekids New Zealand has been attempting to
ban babywalkers in New Zealand – but has only been successful
in obtaining a voluntary standard for manufacturers and
importers. While this has gone some way to a long-term
reduction in babywalker related injuries to children, Safekids
believes that the ban by Canada is a much more significant
and lasting solution. Safekids is pleased with the move by the
Canadian government and is hopeful that, in time, babywalkers
will be banned in other countries around the world, including
New Zealand.

New Playground Equipment Standard Announced
After more than four years of discussion and
submissions, New Zealand’s new playground
equipment standard, NZS 5828:2004
Playground equipment and surfacing, was
released in May this year. The new standard
affects all playground equipment built,
imported and used in New Zealand. NZS
5828:2004 will replace the previous standard
published in 1986 one year from its release.
Standards New Zealand project manager
Beatrice Dias-Wanigasekera says the new
standard is thought to be the best outcome
in terms of challenge and development for
New Zealand children and their safety.
That sentiment is shared by Professor David
Chalmers of the University of Otago Injury
Prevention Research Unit (IPRU), who
believes that while the injury prevention
community did not ‘win’ in all areas when it
came to the new standard, it provides the best
Recent research undertaken by BRC
Marketing and Social Research into attitudes
to child safety show New Zealanders have
mixed opinions when it comes to supervision
and protection of children.
The research, conducted in consultation with
Safekids New Zealand in March of this year,
found New Zealanders were split down the
middle when it came to the question of
whether we over-protect our children.
Those surveyed were asked whether they agreed
that New Zealand parents over-supervise
children, thus hampering a child’s ability to
learn how to be safe. While 43% of those
questioned agreed with the statement, another
43% disagreed. Nearly half of the respondents
living in rural areas disagreed that we overprotect
children.
compromise for all those
involved.
The new standard is based
on European standards
which have been adopted
instead of American
standards, felt by the
standards committee to be
too restrictive.
“Playground users will notice
a number of changes, specific
to New Zealand. For
example the fall height of
upper body equipment has
been reduced from 2.5 metres to 2.2 metres.
There has also been a relaxing of the restrictions
on the equipment for supervised early
childhood play centres,” said Ms Dias-
Wanigasekera.
Professor Chalmers was particularly pleased
by the lowering of the fall height of swings
and climbing equipment for these settings to
1.5m from 1.8m.
Other criteria which affect early childhood
education settings include:
■ Any climbing equipment over 600mm must
be on an approved impact attenuation
surface (soft fall). This is a change from
the present 500mm height.
■ The soft surface must extend 1.5m all
around the equipment (this is reduced from
the current 1.9m)
■ Movable equipment such as climbing boxes
and similar can be up to 1.2m maximum
Safekids’ Director, Ann Weaver, says the research
company was asked to put these types of
questions to the public to “find out what people
really think – not just what a few media reports
say.”
The research was undertaken following media
reports that New Zealanders molly-coddled
children, and Safekids wanted to gauge the
public’s opinion on this issue.
The research provided some interesting points
in terms of perception about injury and injury
prevention.
“As unintentional injury is the leading cause of
death for children from 1 – 14 years, in this
country we were keen to find out what people’s
understanding was about the issues, whether
they felt they had a role to play in preventing
injury and what they were aware of when it
came to safety.”
5
height and other equipment such as an
overhead ladder or connection bridge can
be up to 1.5m
■ There can be more than two swings per
bay in a swing structure. (The standard for
public playgrounds is limited to 2 swings
per bay) provided other associated safety
requirements are met.
■ Static climbing structures must have a
guard rail across all openings, including
slides
“One of the most positive things is that we
actually have a standard after almost 15 years…
and the standard is a good standard,” states
professor Chalmers.
Around one quarter of all fall injuries to
children aged under 15 years are playground
related, and over the years the number of
children injured while using playground
equipment has increased. He attributes this
to a number of things - more equipment being
available for children, and more exposure to
that equipment, but doubts we will see either
a decrease or an increase in the number of fall
injuries to children in the short term with the
introduction of the new standard. What he
is hopeful of, he says, is that playground related
fall injuries will plateau in the short term.
Standards New Zealand plans to promote the
new standard, which is voluntary, in a bid to
ensure as many stakeholders as possible are
aware of the new regulations and to ensure
their implementation on a wide basis. Dr
Dias-Wanigasekera said they may hold
promotional seminars on the standard next
year.
RESEARCH INTO ATTITUDES SHOWS MIXED BAG
The research found that 64% of those surveyed
believed children were more at risk from
unintentional injury than intentional injury
such as assault. Sixty percent believed that
adults played a role in preventing injuries to
children – with 71% of those in households
with children under five years believing that
prevention was possible.
“That people understand prevention is possible
– and that we, as adults play a huge role in this,
is encouraging,” Ms Weaver said.
“The opportunity to work with BRC Marketing
& Social Research and to obtain this kind of
information has been of great benefit to us, as
it provides us with a much clearer picture of
what people know and understand.”
For more information about this research please
contact Ann Weaver, Director, Safekids on
09-820 1194 or email AnnWeaver@adhb.govt.nz

ACTION UPDATE
Regional Action: “Vision Zero” for Auckland Road Safety
On April 6 the Auckland Regional Road Safety
Plan 2004 to 2010 was launched by Auckland
Regional Council and RoadSafe Auckland. The
plan, launched to contribute to global activity
for WHO Day on April 7, outlined a range of
strategies to reduce the region’s road toll by
embracing a ‘vision zero’ and safety management
systems approach.
Road safety agencies in the region state they
have adopted a long-term ‘vision zero’ approach
to road safety, with the aim being that no road
users are killed or seriously injured on
Auckland’s roads. Improved co-ordination of
roading, community development, education
and enforcement efforts form part of the plan,
together with actions that draw on best-practice
from other countries.
It is a decade since RoadSafe Auckland launched
its first regional plan, and since that time
significant progress has been made to improve
the safety of road users. Today, approximately
20% fewer people are killed in road crashes in
the Auckland Region than in 1994. More
people wear safety belts and fewer people drink
and drive.
The new regional plan outlines the road safety
challenges for the Auckland Region and signals
a continuing need for agencies and the
Communities in Action:
Safe Community Celebration for Waitakere
Chart topping singer/songwriter Che Fu (pictured) joined participants
and supporters of the Safe Communities movement to celebrate
Waitakere City’s fifth anniversary as a WHO Safe Community.
Che sang about safety as hundreds of guests celebrated the milestone
with a City Safe Picnic. Lunch, entertainment and safety messages
delivered by artists and musicians were all part of the day. During
the event Safe Waitakere Injury Prevention (SWIP) board members,
including Safekids Director Ann Weaver, signed a Safe Community
Agreement, recommitting to make Waitakere City a safe community
through implementation of a long term injury control programme.
community to work together to bring about
further change. The plan contains five broad
goals that relate to the leading crash factors
within the region. In summary these goals aim
to:
1. Reduce alcohol related crashes
2. Reduce speed related crashes
3. Reduce intersection crashes
4. Reduce the number of pedestrians killed
and injured
5. Increase the level of occupants using
restraints.
Regional Manager for the Land Transport
Safety Authority (LTSA), Peter Kippenberger,
welcomed the plan.
“More people die on the roads in the Auckland
Region than any other region in New Zealand,
accounting for over 20 per cent of all road
deaths. Auckland region’s unique transport
challenges mean that a planned and coordinated
approach to road safety is more
important than ever and the Regional Road
Safety Plan provides a way forward.”
To download a copy of the Regional
Road Safety Plan 2004 to 2010 in pdf
format visit either www.arc.govt.nz or
www.roadsafeauckland.org.nz
6
To highlight the number of children
injured or killed on the Auckland region’s
roads, 90 children presented a dramatic
performance on Auckland’s Queen St.
Performed to sound effects and music,
the children lay down on the road and
51 of their body shapes were traced
around with white chalk to represent the
51 child deaths that have occurred over
the last five years on the roads. A small
white bouquet of flowers was left on each
shape and 51 crosses placed on a large
board.
.............................................
Communities Living Injury Free in Auckland City
Last month Auckland City launched Communities Living Injury
Free, a programme to reduce the number and severity of injuries for
city residents from Otahuhu to Avondale and the eastern suburbs.
The launch introduced the Communities Living Injury Free
programme’s new logo, website and branding, while delivering some
serious injury prevention messages in a light hearted and fun way.
The Communities Living Injury Free programme is funded by the
Ministry of Health and administered by Auckland City Council’s
Community Development Division. More than a hundred members
of the community, including representatives from organisations such
as Safekids, the Child Safety Foundation, ACC, Plunket, Watersafe
Auckland, Age Concern, Alcohol Healthwatch, the NZ Police, NZ
Fire Service, and Housing New Zealand, attended the celebration.
Representatives from Primary Health Organisations, the Auckland
District Health Board, local Maori and Pacific Island health providers
and new settler groups were also there, as were key researchers and
academics specialising in this area
For more information about the programme, you can check
out the Communities Living Injury Free website at
www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/injuryfree

Bath Time
Safety Campaign
Bath toys make a splash with the
Auckland injury prevention community
– and hopefully caregivers. Photo courtesy
of the Whangarei Leader.
KidSafe Week Information and Planning days,
held in 16 centres during April and May,
brought more than 280 representatives
together from a wide range of organisations
for a focus on child safety.
The Information and Planning Days focused
on providing information about the causes of
injury, and activities and issues for 2004.
Prevention of burn injuries and motor vehicle
passenger injuries are the themes for
communities this year and representatives
from the Fire Service, Public Health, Plunket,
the NZ Police, ACC, Land Transport Safety
Authority, local councils, and the education
sector, took the opportunity to brainstorm
ideas for local activity.
Suggested activities varied around the country,
depending on current work being carried out,
and issues for communities. However, a
number of activities were put forward by
communities including:
■ Holding of free child restraint check clinics
using Safe2Go technicians to check restraints
■ Training of coalition members as Safe2Go
trainers
■ Checkpoints by police and coalitions during
October and throughout the year
A campaign to reduce the high drowning rate among one-year-olds has begun on Auckland’s
North Shore and in Whangaparoa.
ShoreSafe Children, WaterSafe Auckland and Plunket are working together to promote bath
time safety messages for the parents of toddlers. Every child attending their nine-month Well
Child Check with Plunket or other health providers will be given bath toys during the
campaign. The toys come in the form of four colourful foam bath stickers – each a different
water animal.
Each bath sticker carries a safety message:
- Always stay with us at bath time - Run cold water first
- Always use a non-slip bath mat - Always put the plug up high
Caregivers will be provided with brochures containing suggestions for water play and water
safety appropriate to the age group targeted, e.g. bubble games to play in the bath and paddling
pool activities designed to introduce water to young children in an enjoyable and safe
environment.
The Bath Time Safety Project is based on an idea developed by the Northland Community
Injury Prevention Group. The project targets nine-month-old babies as Coronial data from
January 1999 – July 2002 showed 40% of children who drowned were aged one year.
By getting in early with safety messages, the project team hope to raise awareness among
parents whose children are about to reach the danger age. The team hope to extend the project
region-wide. WaterSafe Auckland is seeking funding for the project to be carried out in
Waitakere City as statistics show that drowning, burns, and falls, feature highly in the child
mortality rate for the Waitakere area.
The Papakura Kidsafe Coalition has received some funding through an ACC Child Safety
Grant to distribute these resources as part of their activities for KidSafe Week 2004.
For information about the North Shore campaign, please contact Teresa Stanley,
WaterSafe Auckland, ph 09-306 0809, 027 285 9045, or email
teresa.stanley@watersafe.org.nz.
.............................................
KIDSAFE WEEK 2004
Info Days Bring Communities
Together
In Taranaki local organisers used the
Information & Planning Day as an
opportunity to show their Recognition
Certificate, presented at the KidSafe Week
Leadership Conference in March, for past
KidSafe Week campaigns.
■ Checkpoints and education at sports
registration days
■ Child restraint checks at early childhood
education centres
■ Open days at NZ Fire Service stations
■ Community safety days with emphasis on
burns prevention
■ Campaign to have local coffee shops use
coasters with hot water safety messages
■ Promotion with local Master Plumbers
Association members around hot water and
safety
■ Smoke alarm check campaign
Information was also provided to participants
about next year’s campaign and future plans
for KidSafe Week.
7
FIREMAN ED’S VISIT for Preschoolers
Darfield librarian and local KidSafe Week
coalition co-ordinator, Lynda Seaton, has once
again written a wonderful book for preschool
and young primary school-aged children focused
around one of this year’s themes burns prevention.
Fireman Ed’s Visit provides younger children
with important safety messages about the dangers
of fire and what do in if a fire occurs. Approved
by the New Zealand Fire Service, the book will
be available in the lead up to KidSafe Week (in
both English and Maori) for purchase by
coalitions or educators.
Books cost $6.00 each plus postage and
packaging and can be ordered by phoning
Sandra James on (03) 313 6136 or emailing
sandra@wmk.govt.nz

Info Centre Update from : Simon Whitlock
Below are recent pieces of information from both New Zealand
and overseas which investigate and/or provide safety information
around the issue of child pedestrian injury related to reversing
vehicles and driveways. To order a copy of any of these items please
contact Simon at the Safekids Information and Resource Centre
Child deaths and injuries in
driveways: Response to the
recommendations of the child
death review team 2000
Henderson, Michael
Motor Accidents Authority of
NSW
http://www.maa.nsw.gov.au
Record # 5025
Devices to reduce the risk to
young pedestrians from
reversing motor vehicles 2001
Paine, Michael and Henderson,
Michael
Motor Accidents Authority of
NSW
http://www.maa.nsw.gov.au
Record # 5026
Pedestrian injuries 1999
Hockey, Richard
Queensland Injury Surveillance
Unit (QISU)
Injury Bulletin 52(feb)99 entire
issue
Record # 5172
Injuries in the home: Toddler’s
low speed run overs 1997
Queensland Injury Surveillance
Unit
Injury Bulletin 46(dec)97 1
Record # 5181
Driveway injuries in children:
Risk factors 2001
Nadler, Evan P. et al.
Department of Surgery, Children’s
Hospital of Pittsburgh
Pediatrics 108(2)01 326-328
Record # 5187
Vehicles reversing or rolling
backwards: an underestimated
hazard 2001
Mayr, J.M. et al.
Injury Prevention 7(4)dec01 327-
328
Record # 5413
Outcomes of pediatric
pedestrian injuries by locations
of event 2001
Di Scala, Carla et al.
45th Annual Proceedings:
Association for the Advancement
of Automotive Medicine-
September 24-26, 2001 241-249
Record # 5478
Injuries and deaths among
children left unattended in or
around motor vehicles - United
States, July 2000-June 2001
2002
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly
Report (MMWR) 51(26)02 570-
572
Record # 5767
Driveway deaths: Fatalities of
young children in Australia as
a result of low-speed motor
vehicle impacts 2002
Neeman, Terry et al.
Australian Transport Safety Bureau
Road Safety Report CR 208
Record # 5811
Driveway-related motor
vehicle injuries in the
paediatric population: a
preventable tragedy 2002
Murphy, Feilim et al.
The New Zealand Medical Journal
115(1160)02
Record # 5898
Why our children are not as
safe as we think they are 2002
Beasley, Spencer
Department of Paediatric Surgery,
Christchurch Hospital
The New Zealand Medical Journal
115(1160)02
Record # 5899
For more information contact: Simon Whitlock, Information Service Manager, Safekids Information and Resource Centre
162 Blockhouse Bay Rd, PO Box 19544, Avondale, Auckland, New Zealand. Ph (09) 820 1193, fax (09) 820 1191
Emails: safekids@iconz.co.nz — simonw@adhb.govt.nz — Internet: www.safekids.org.nz
8
quoting the title and four-digit reference number of the item(s)
you are interested in viewing. A more comprehensive list of all
items held within this topic can be created by visiting our website.
Go to http://www.safekids.org.nz/index.php/pi_pageid/25 and
type driveways in the keyword box.
Home driveway injuries and
fatalities in the Auckland
region 2002
Safekids
Auckland Regional Fact Sheet
Record # 6126
Driveway injuries: A
preventable tragedy 2002
Safekids
Safekids News 17(jun)02 1-3
Record # 6218
Driveway accident prevention:
Tips for improving safety while
reversing
NSW Motor Accidents Authority
http://www.maa.nsw.gov.au/roadsa
fety36reports.htm
Record # 6498
Children’s response to a
commercial back-up warning
device 2003
Sapien, R.E. et al.
Injury Prevention 9(1)03 87-88
Record # 6607
Low speed run-overs of young
children in QLD 2003
Hockey, Richard et al.
Queensland Injury Surveillance
Unit (QISU)
Injury Bulletin 76(mar)03 entire
issue
Record # 6622
Car rear vision blind spots
killing children 2002
Tyler, Fran
The Dominion Post (11nov)02
Record # 6705
The danger to young
pedestrians from reversing
motor vehicles
Paine, Michael et al.
Paper No. 466
Record # 6928
Four children crushed in their
driveways 2001
Godbole, P. et al.
Department of Paediatric Surgery,
Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS
Trust, Leeds, UK
Journal of the Royal Society of
Medicine (94)01 294-296
Record # 7223
Preventing home driveway
injuries to our children 2003
Safe Waitakere
This is a colour A4 flyer resource
which provides parents and caregivers
with safety advice around the
prevention of driveway injury to
children. Also see rec # 7264.
Record # 7263
Going out? Where are the kids?
- Ka wehe atu koe i te kainga?
Kei hea ou tamariki? 2003
Safe Waitakere
This bilingual double-sided resource
hangs on the door to the home. It
provides a reminder for parents and
adults to check on the whereabouts
of young children before driving
vehicles off the property to ensure that
they are not run over.
Record # 7264
Safety in driveways: Death of
toddler underlines concerns
2003
Royal New Zealand Plunket
Society Inc.
Plunket Safety Update (spr)03 2
Record # 7292
Vehicle Access: Extract of
section 2.4 from NZS
4102:1996 Safer House Design
1996
Standards New Zealand - Paerewa
Aotearoa
Wellington, Standards New
Zealand: 1996
Extract of section 2.4 from New
Zealand Standard 4102:1996 Safer
House Design which concerns vehicle
access and driveway design.
Record # 7610