Fatal accidents among children on the rise

A study conducted by the UAE in cooperation with Unicef in the Gulf Arab states between 2008 and 2010 revealed that mortality rate among children due to fatal accidents are on the rise.

Ministry of Health recorded 746 cases between 2000 and 2006. Traffic accidents, drowning and falls comprised about 80 per cent of fatal accidents among children in the UAE, reported 'Al Khaleej' newspaper.

In Abu Dhabi about seven per cent of the total number of casualties in traffic accidents in 2009 were below 17 years of age.

The study revealed 16 children who lost their lives were under the legal age to drive a car; two of them less than eight years and 14 children between nine and 17 years. All were driving cars without adult supervision.

According to the annual report of Department of Health Policy at UAE Ministry of Health deaths among children due to brain injury, damage to internal organs, nerves due to road accidents were the leading causes of deaths among children below 15 years of age in 2006.

The UAE has enforced strict traffic laws with th aim to reduce traffic accidents with awarding heavy penalties and fines.

Overspeeding, using mobile phones while driving call for hefty fines while policepatrols on the streets have increased so also awareness campaigns by police and the Ministry of Health.

The study also mentioned that most accidents in general involving children took place at homes.

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