Some 800 doctors, nurses, educators, engineers and safety experts will convene
at the Jerusalem International Convention Center (Binyanei Ha’uma) on Wednesday
to establish the subject of child safety as part of the national
agenda.
The conference is being organized by Beterem, the National Center
for Child Safety and Health.
“We have internal professional conferences
on a regular basis,” Beterem director Orly Silbinger told The Jerusalem Post,
“but this is the first time we are getting together to draw the attention that
raises the country’s awareness of safety issues and children to the highest
priority.”
The all-day event is being sponsored by the Jerusalem
Municipality and the Health Ministry.
Every year, many tens of thousands
of Israeli children reach hospital emergency rooms following accidents at home
and nearby. These include playground injuries, fires, drownings, burns, falls,
and unintentional poisonings.
They occur throughout the year, but a
higher proportion occur during summer vacation and holidays. Such accidents are
the main cause of death in children up to the age of 14.
“The country
must upgrade the issue,” Silbinger said. “We want child safety to be a
part of daily thinking. At present, it does not have enough priority. We also
have to discuss the role of the media. Accidents involving children involve huge
financial costs, not to mention the human and societal costs.”
The
conference will be addressed by Katie Carr, chief executive officer of Safe Kids
Worldwide, of which Beterem is a branch. The non-profit organization was founded
in 1987 and is based in Washington, DC.
Members of the international body
teach families about child injury risks and prevention. They also encourage and
conduct research on leading injury risks; evaluate solutions for these risks;
work to pass and improve child safety laws and regulations; provide lifesaving
devices such as child safety seats, helmets and smoke alarms to families that
need them; and promote corporate leadership in child safety through effective
and sustainable partnerships.