Stages of development and injury patterns in the early years: a population-based analysis

Table 3 External causes of injury and key prevention opportunities inferred from population-based analysis

Age Group	Key Injury Prevention Issues
Injury Mechanism	Nature of Injury	Developmental Aspect (activity, behaviour, susceptibility)	Prevention Priority*
*0–11 months*
Falls	Head injury	Mobility (rolling), Vulnerability	1, 2, 3, 4
From furniture, being dropped	Open wound
Foreign body ingestions	Ingestion	Grasping, Reaching, Curiosity	2, 4
Burns	Burn	Reaching, Curiosity, Vulnerability	2, 4
*12–35 months*
Falls	Head injury	Mobility, Co-ordination, Balance, Curiosity,	1, 2, 3, 4
From/into furniture, on stairs	Open wound Superficial
Foreign body ingestions	Poisoning	Mobility, Curiosity, Dexterity	2, 4
*36–59 months*
Falls	Open wound	Mobility, Co-ordination, Curiosity	1, 2, 3, 4
From furniture, playground structures	Superficial Fracture
Collisions with objects or persons	Fracture Open wound	Group Activity, Judgment	1, 4
Caught in/between objects	Open wound	Mobility, Judgment	2, 4
*60–83 months*
Falls	Fracture	Mobility, Co-ordination, Curiosity	1, 2, 3, 4
From playground structures	Open wound
Struck by objects or persons	Superficial Open wound	Group Activity, Judgment	1, 4
Cut or pierced by sharp object	Open wound	Dexterity, Judgment	2, 4

* 1. Supervision; 2. Access to hazards; 3. Falls from heights; 4. Anticipating risks