INTRODUCTION

Childhood accidents have become an area of special interest for social and health research as it is one of the main causes of death in children in developed societies. Starting from the idea that child injuries are an inherent risk of growing up and life learning, prevention has to be one of the main lines in programmes on injury in health promotion.

METHODS

This article reports the results of a survey of 421 pupils in 5th and 6th year of Primary Education in public schools in Jaen province who participated in the safety first campaign called «Learn to grow with safety»¹. This campaign is organised by the Andalusian Government Employment Council.

RESULTS

Injuries occur more frequently in boys, as they grow older, than in girls. These injuries occur mainly in the street, while in girls they most frequently occur in the home. Furthermore, school is the most secure place.

CONCLUSIONS

The type of child injury observed is very similar to job injuries (falls, cuts and knocks) which justifies the importance of insisting learning preventive behaviour at a early age. This would lead to good habits that would involve less risk taking in adult years, and therefore less injuries at work.