Is day care safe for children? Accident records reviewed

Abstract

Accident records for 133 normal children, aged two months to under six years, attending a well‐supervised day care center were reviewed. Eighty children were involved in 488 accidents (range = 1 ‐19, mode = 1). Sex differences were not statistically significant, although more boys were accident repeaters. Only six injuries(1%) required physician referral even though 73% involved the head. Washing, ice or Tender Loving Care were sufficient treatment for 96% of the injuries. Despite numerous accidents, serious injury was very rare, and day care, indeed, seemed safe.