[Cranial injuries in children in the county of Ringkøbing. 3. Analysis of fatal accidents].

Information concerning all deaths resulting from head injuries in children aged 0-15 years in the County of Ringkøbing during the period 1.1.1982-31.8.1989 was reviewed retrospectively. As might be anticipated, the great majority of accidents occurred in traffic (77.1%). Young children who were pedestrians were struck by motor vehicles while the older children were struck while cycling. Where pedestrians were concerned, there was, as a rule, insufficient supervision when the accident occurred. Children who were killed while cycling had not employed bicycle helmets. Relatively many children were killed on farms (17.1%) and the common feature of these accidents was that simple safety rules had not been observed. It is concluded that nearly half of all the accidents could have been avoided if simple prophylactic measures such as supervision and screening of machines and working areas had been observed.