Injury Prevention for Young Children

The long range goals of this project are (1) to develop and establish a National Comprehensive Safety Certification System for Child-Care Providers; whereby, providers can receive uniform and validated training in injury prevention, (2) to determine if unintentional injury prevention competencies can be established for the target population of children ages 0-4 years and to determine if they are maintained over time, and (3) to determine whether increased training and knowledge of caregivers can reduce unintentional death and injury of children ages 0-4 years caused by motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents, falls, poisoning, drowning, choking and suffocation, fires and burns. During Phase I, Bonnie Walker & Associates will develop and pilot test an injury prevention curriculum for day care providers, parents, and child-care licensing personnel. During Phase II, we will conduct a national field test of the certification system, develop turn-key materials for instructors, revise the injury prevention curriculum based on the results of the pilot test, and a system network for matching certified instructors and facilities needing training. The project will be guided by an advisory board whose members have expertise in research and evaluation, safety, injury prevention, health care operations, epidemiology, preschool child-care center operations, pediatrics, and training. ill be produced to illustrate the need for injury prevention for the elderly suitable for all audiences. The completed system to be developed and field tested in Phase II will include staff training, instructor training, continuing education, and a network which will serve the purpose of gathering information for continuing evaluation of the program and linking facilities needing training with qualified instructors.