The authors of this paper have recently participated in two European groups that have been examining the problems of injuries to children and young people: the EURORISC (European Review of Injury Surveillance and Control) project and CESP (Confederation of European Specialists in Paediatrics). They briefly describe these activities, and consider issues relevant to the protection of European children from injury: (1) the data on childhood injury available throughout Europe; (2) examples of good practice and networking; (3) action and regulations on specific injury problems; (4) research on injury prevention; and (5) the role of communities. Findings from early EURORISC analyses suggest that, throughout the European Union (EU), injuries continue to be the leading cause of death in childhood, and transport accidents are the major cause of child injury death. There are wide variations in child injury mortality between different EU countries, with the UK and Sweden having the lowest rates. All EU countries have had a decline in child injury mortality during recent years. The key strategic concerns about child injury in the EU relate to information and collective action. The European Commission (EC) is planning a programme of injury prevention throughout the EU, starting in 1999; children are one of its priorities. For the covering abstract see IRRD E100681.
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