Kidsafe is celebrating 40 years of making the world a safer place for children, as well as recognising the close partnership between the SA team and the Women's and Children's Hospital.
Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Women's and Children's Hospital (WCH), Phil Robinson, said the partnership between Kidsafe SA and WCH is a testament to the tireless commitment to caring for South Australian children.
"We are privileged to have a close relationship with Kidsafe SA that allows families in the hospital to access educational resources and child safety items, as well as receive support from the knowledgeable staff," Mr Robinson said.
"Over the years, I have had plenty of positive feedback from families about the support they have received from Kidsafe SA that has made them feel more comfortable heading home with their new baby and keeping their child safe as they grow.
"We see around 47,000 children each year at WCH and up to 30 per cent of these presentations are trauma and injury related, so we are hugely supportive of any efforts to reduce preventable injuries.
Acting Chief Executive Officer of Kidsafe SA, McKeely Denholm said Kidsafe was first established in 1979 to ensure there were improved child safety measures and a focus on community education to create a safer world for children.
"Since the introduction of Kidsafe, the number of children in Australia who have died from unintentional injury has reduced by almost 80 per cent," Ms Denholm said.
"While a great deal has been achieved in preventing unintentional deaths and serious injuries to children over the years, injury is still the leading cause of death in Australian children aged between one to 14, accounting for nearly half of all deaths in this age group.
"The top five causes of child injury death are transport related, drowning, unsafe sleeping environments, strangulations and suffocations, and crush injuries from unsecured furniture.
"Our hard work over the last four decades has increased awareness, and we work continuously to reduce avoidable deaths to children by providing injury prevention programs, educational resources and campaigns, as well as advocating for legislation and standard changes."
Kidsafe thanks their stakeholders including government, industry, schools, hospitals, the media, community groups, voluntary organisations and individuals for their support over the last 40 years.
