WHY WAS IT ESTABLISHED? As members of the medical and paramedical professions, we are constantly witnessing the effect of ignorance and have identified a need for education to prevent paediatric injuries. WHO WORLD HEALTH REPORT 1999

Estimates that

• 1171000 people are killed on the roads every year
• 10 – 15000000 are injured or disabled every year over 163000 of those killed and 1500000 of those injured or disabled are children under 15 years of age – 15% of the total figure.
• Among people aged 15 to 44 road traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for men and 5th highest killer of women.
• Developing countries (including S.A.) account for 32% of motor vehicles but 75% of fatalities.
• In the next 10 years at least 10000000 people will die and 100000000 will be injured or disabled if nothing is done to significantly improve road safety.

SOUTH AFRICA

• There is a motor vehicle accident every 60 seconds
• There is a fatal motor vehicle accident every 6 minutes
• Injuries account for
o 32% of childhood mortality between the ages of 1 – 4
o 48% of childhood mortality between the ages of 5 –14
o 52% of childhood mortality between the ages of 15–19
• Everyday in S.A. at least 10 children die due to injuries sustained in m.v.a.'s

MOST OF THESE DEATHS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED.