This occasional paper is the ninth in a series on the National Quality Framework (NQF). The Education and Care Services National Law and National Regulations govern the minimum standards and requirements that all providers of NQF regulated services must meet, including health and safety requirements. Quality Area 2 of the National Quality Standard…

Sport is an increasingly important area of society both inside and outside of the school environment although this has not always been the case. Greater interest in sports policy is also emerging at both a European and International level with the prospective of a "Rights" based approach developing. The safety of those playing sport is…

Therapists, physicians, police officers, and emergency staff often are the messengers of bad news. They have to tell a patient, a parent, or a loved one about a death, an accident, a school shooting, a life-threatening diagnosis, a terrorist attack, or a suicide. Usually the messenger bears a heavy responsibility but has little training and seeks…

In the 20th century's final decades, advances in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases sharply reduced the child death rate. Despite this progress, the child death rate in the U.S. remains higher than in many other wealthy nations. The under-five mortality rate in the U.S. is almost three times higher than that of Iceland and Sweden…

Illustrates how evaluating the Oklahoma City Smoke Alarm Project increased its success in reducing residential fire-related injuries and deaths. The program distributed and tested smoke alarms in residential dwellings and offered educational materials on fire prevention and safety. Evaluation provided sound data on program processes and outcomes,…

Examines frequency, costs, and quality of life losses associated with unintentional childhood injuries in 1996, using analyses of national and state data sets. Summarizes the cost effectiveness of several child safety measures and discusses current federal funding patterns for health care research on the subject. An appendix presents methods of…

Presents a historical overview of injury control and prevention in the United States and offers a summary of current knowledge about the importance of different causes of childhood injury, looking at risk and protective factors that have a bearing on preventive efforts. Injury remains the most important cause of death and disability for children…

Describes six legislative efforts to point out pros and cons of the legislative approach to promoting child safety. Three efforts are intended to prevent injury-producing events from occurring. Three others illustrate the value of laws designed to prevent injuries once an injury-producing event occurs. Offers recommendations for maximizing the…

Dramatic improvements have been made in the lives of children over the last century. Even so, many health and safety challenges remain unresolved. For example, unintentional injuries claim the lives of more children each year than any other cause of death. In addition, a panel of pediatricians reported that the incidence of childhood obesity…

Sports-related eye injuries are quite common, yet the number of children who use protective eyewear (safety glasses or goggles) is extremely low. More than 600,000 eye injuries related to sports occur each year, and approximately one-third of these injuries occur in children. When children participate in sports they not only increase their…

The K-2 MORE HEALTH community bicycle safety education program was conducted in nine Florida elementary schools, offering interactive education sessions and reduced-cost bicycle helmets. Researchers reviewed classroom teacher evaluations and observed helmet use at the schools. Results indicated that the program affected helmet use in participating…

Analyzes preventive strategies to reduce childhood injuries through education, environmental change, and enforcement of legislation and regulation, offering recommendations for steps to reduce the toll of injuries on children's lives. After discussing the magnitude, trends, and costs associated with childhood injuries and models for prevention,…

State health agencies are asked to do a big job. With the advent of an increased focus on bioterrorism preparedness, and the emergence of diseases such as West Nile Virus and SARS, the job is becoming bigger. Yet health agencies still have responsibilities for more traditional concerns, since these problems remain threats to the public. State…

Designed as a "Participant's Manual" to be used as part of a "Chemical and Mercury Management in Schools Training," this document focuses on the policies and programs needed at the school and district level for safe and sustainable chemical and mercury management practices. This document is designed primarily for school…

Addresses the need for safety education as a continuous process through elementary and secondary phases of education in the context of human risk within modern society. Discusses the teaching of safety subjects in civil engineering curriculum. (YP)