Preventing unintentional injuries in children and young people under 15.

Unintentional injury is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children aged one to 14 years and puts more children in hospital than any other cause. The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published public health guidance on strategies to prevent unintentional injuries among children and young people aged under 15, along with related guidance on provision of home safety equipment and home risk assessments, and road design and modification. This paper, by a member of the NICE programme development group, aims to provide an overview of the guidance, which focuses on strategies, regulation, enforcement, surveillance and workforce development to prevent unintentional injuries in the home, on the road and during outdoor play and leisure.