Child Accident Prevention Trust in Northern Ireland.

Each year in Northern Ireland (NI) approximately 40 children under 16 years of age die and almost 4000 are admitted to hospital from injuries sustained in accidents. Northern Ireland has a higher child population than the rest of the UK with 24% of its population aged under 14 years. The population is also more disadvantaged in socioeconomic terms with average annual household income 6% less than for the rest of the UK. These combine to make the NI accident problem more significant than elsewhere in the UK. In December 1993 the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPTI) opened an office in Belfast when funding made it possible to appoint a child safety development officer for Northern Ireland. This brief report outlines how this came about, how CAPT has successfully maintained a presence in the province, and the type of activity that we have undertaken since then.