July 03, Colombo (LNW): A senior paediatric specialist has issued a stark warning over the growing number of childhood accidents, urging families and caregivers to take a more proactive role in ensuring children’s safety.
Prof. Ruwanthi Perera, a consultant paediatrician at the Colombo South Teaching Hospital in Kalubowila, voiced her concerns during a press briefing held by the Health Promotion Bureau to mark National Accident Prevention Week.
Drawing attention to national health statistics, Prof. Perera revealed a worrying upward trend in injuries amongst children, noting that Sri Lanka ranks high amongst South Asian countries in terms of accident-related incidents involving minors.
She stressed that most of these injuries are avoidable and often stem from a lack of adult supervision or insufficient awareness of potential hazards in everyday environments.
According to Professor Perera, medical services treat children up to the age of 16, and two specific age brackets are especially susceptible to accidents. The first includes younger children who are naturally curious and prone to unintentional harm through exploration, such as inserting objects into sockets or handling sharp items.
The second group, typically adolescents between 12 and 14, tend to engage in more deliberate risk-taking behaviour, driven by a desire for independence and experimentation.
She identified falls, cuts, and burns as the most frequently reported types of injuries amongst children, many of which occur in familiar settings like homes, schools, or playgrounds. “These are not rare occurrences—they are daily realities in emergency departments,” she stated.
Professor Perera also pointed out that prevention starts with education. “Parents, teachers, and caregivers must take the lead in creating safer environments and teaching children to recognise and avoid dangerous situations,” she said. She called for increased public awareness campaigns and stronger emphasis on safety education in schools to help reduce these incidents.
