Accidental, injury or sudden death amongst
young people (up to the age of 19) approximately: 1420 All accidents 700 Road Traffic Accidents (Massively the biggest single cause) 220 Accidents in the home. 200 Skin cancer caused by over exposure to the sun 140 Suffocation 125 Poisoning (a quarter of which are from taking Class A drugs) 110 Suicide (Not part of the 1400 total, but twice as common as child
murders) 90 Drowning 80 Fire (When did you last change the batteries in your fire detectors?) 70 Falls (Kids fall a lot, but it is not often fatal) 50 Homicide (Not part of the 1400 total. The vast majority by someone from
within the direct or extended family.) 3 On school trips (The average since 1985 - Mostly Road Traffic Accidents) And by comparison….. School visits 3 (A third of which are road traffic accidents ) Adventure Activities on school visits 1 Marcus H. Bailie:Head
of Inspection Services, Adventure Activities Licensing Authority Source: "…..
and by comparison". (2005)
Just about the safest place a child could be is on a school trip, writes
Phil Revell, and teachers have little to fear either. The Guardian, March 15, 2005
Risk is often
cited as the main factor deterring schools from organising school trips. We
have found no evidence to support the perception that school trips are
inherently risky. House of Commons Education and Skills
Committee Education Outside the Classroom, Second Report of Session 2004–05
A person under 18 years has a 0.01% chance of staying in hospital as the
result of an outdoor play accident. Kate Moorcock: teacher and author
of Swings and Roundabouts
Leeds City Council found such an increase in pedestrian injuries each
October that they have had to design a road safety skills programme for
under graduates coming to their city. They are having to teach adults to
cross the road because already people have not had the opportunity to
practice these skills in childhood. Kate Moorcock: teacher and author
of Swings and Roundabouts
The Duke of Edinburgh Award schemes have an accident rate of 1 serious
accident (e.g. broken leg) per 1.5 million overnights. Marcus H. Bailie:Head
of Inspection Services, Adventure Activities Licensing Authority Source: "…..
and by comparison". (2005) Health and Safety Guidance