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Injuries account for a significant burden of mortality, morbidity, disability and health care costs. They differentially affect age and sex groups and reveal massive inequalities in occurrence within and between countries in Europe. Within countries, the poor suffer most and have least ability to change their exposures to risk. Addressing inequalities in injury occurrence would play a valuable role in reducing the differential burden of ill-health between rich and poor. Despite the evidence for many effective injury-related interventions, limited attention has been devoted to addressing injuries as a public health priority. This paper questions why attention has been limited to date and suggests policy action to support injuries being addressed as a mainstream concern by national and international health policy-makers. The paper briefly highlights the public health burden of injuries and violence; illustrates the range of inequalities that characterise their occurrence; highlights the scope for public health action and considers the extent to which policies that reduce the overall burden of injuries may also reduce inequalities in their occurrence; and finally examines why there has been a limited policy response to date and suggests ways of advancing the agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Statement of the problem Children have a right to safety, butthis is still not optimally implemented throughout Europe. Furthermore, nojoint commitment to change has been undertaken by the European Parliament,European Commission, or collectively by the EU Member States. This paper summarizesa White Book presented to governments entitled ‘Priorities for ChildSafety in the European Union,’ requesting concerted action. Methods The report is based on statistics provided by the WorldHealth Organization as well as by research centers in the European Union MemberStates. Original research was contracted to the Mori Social Research Institutein 2001 in order to obtain an update on parents' and leading governmentofficials' views on child safety. Results The leading causes of child injury deaths in the EU (roadaccidents, 48%, other unintentional 16%, intentional 13%, drowning 11%, fires5%, falls 5%, and poisoning 2%) are the same in all Member States, but itis the distribution of injuries within each category that determines the uniqueprofile of each. Adopting a number of best practices that have been identifiedfor each injury area can reduce these injury deaths. Survey results show thatthe parents of children in Europe are concerned regarding child injuries,while government officials are still not making strong commitments to advancesafety for children. A review of EU standards and legislation related to childsafety shows that these are still incomplete and require changes. Conclusions A joint commitment to reduce child accidental injurydeaths in the EU is advocated, with a clear set of recommendations to actupon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]