Dubai: Accidents are the main cause of deaths among children up to 14 years of age, a study reveals.
It was presented during the three-day Arab Children Health Congress by Dr Michal Grivna, associate professor, faculty of medicine and health sciences, at the University of the UAE, as part of the Safe Kids Middle East programme.
He said traffic accidents represent 63 per cent of mortality cases, followed by drowning and falls at 10 per cent each.
Surveys among the local population showed that over 90 per cent had never used car seats before and that the majority of children were not restrained whether seated in front or at the rear of the car.
Other risks
"There are also environmental risk factors that need to be addressed such as ensuring appropriate traffic and urban planning around schools and safe drop off and pick up sites for children," Dr Grivna said.
"We have found, for example, there are few school warning signs, speed signs, bumps or radars to slow down traffic and that in about 80 per cent of cases children are dropped off into the main road or opposite of the road instead of directly into the sidewalk."
The report called for the introduction and enforcement of child safety restraints and effective traffic calming measures in and around schools to ensure that speed is low enough to drop off and pick up children.
"Over the past five years, we have been working with various partners such as the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority and Dubai Healthcare Authority on educational safety programmes for children and families within schools and hospitals," Johannes Pattermann, Chairman of Johnson and Johnson Corporate Citizenship Trust Middle East, said.
"We strongly believe that a comprehensive approach that is built on a relevant policy and legislative framework, building capacity and creating awareness and education on safety makes a difference in terms of reducing child injuries and fatalities."
