Childhood injury prevention and anticipatory guidance — formative SAQs

SAQ 1 (10 marks)

Parents of a newly walking 14-month-old attend for a well visit. The home has stairs, an openable first-floor window with a flyscreen, cleaning products under the sink, and loose button batteries from a TV remote. ^[1]

1. Explain why “accident” is a poor framing for this consultation. (2) ^[2]
2. List six high-yield hazards for this developmental stage. (3) ^[1]
3. For stairs, poisons and windows, give one passive and one active strategy each. (3) ^{[3] [6]}
4. State how you will close the visit to confirm understanding. (2) ^[1]

Model answer

1. Injury is preventable energy transfer in a host–agent–environment system. “Accident” implies fate and weakens prevention. ^[2]
2. Stairs/falls, windows/balconies, poisons/medicines, button batteries, scalds/hot drinks, choking on foods/small objects (also water access). ^{[1] [4] [5]}
3. Stairs: gate (passive) + supervise on stairs (active). Poisons: locked storage/child-resistant packaging (passive) + never call medicine “lollies” (active). Windows: locks/guards and furniture away from sills (passive) + never rely on flyscreens (active). ^{[3] [6] [7]}
4. Rank three actions for tonight and use teach-back; document barriers (cost, landlord, second home). ^[1]