Recommendations were not based on cost-effectiveness of options. Patient preferences were not discussed. Background papers providing critical appraisal of the evidence and tentative recommendations prepared by the chapter author were pre-circulated to the members. Consensus was reached on final recommendations. Counselling of parents about safety features in the home has not been shown to be effective.
Expert opinion supports swimming lessons to reduce drowning.
A cohort study has shown the association between drowning and young children being left alone in the bathtub. Before and after studies have show reduced incidence of burns after legislation on smoke detectors, noninflammable sleepwear, and hot water temperature regulation. An RCT supports the use of lower hot water heater temperature to reduce related injuries. Before after studies have show a reduction in poisoning after legislation on child-proof medicine containers. Education, although useful for increasing the number of families who have and understand the use of ipecac for poisoning, has generally failed to decrease the incidence of poisoning.