SAFETY campaigners have urged parents and carers to be vigilant about the health and safety of children in their care after it was revealed that the NHS in Scotland spends in the region of £40 million every year treating youngsters who are injured in accidents.

And figures from the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) ahead of Child Safety Week reveal that providing lifetime support in Scotland for a child who has suffered a severe brain injury after a fall costs almost £5m, which includes NHS spend as well as services such as special education and social care needs.

The wider costs to the NHS of treating even one child under the age of five who is seriously injured in the home is around £33,000.

Burns, falls, drowning, poisoning and choking are among the most likely causes of accidents among under-fives, and reflect the charity’s theme for this year’s Child Safety Week – which starts next Monday – “Family life today: where’s the risk?”

It highlights the new dangers facing families from today’s modern lifestyles and offers simple solutions to help keep youngsters safe.

A number of high-profile events are scheduled for the week, including a Scottish Parliament debate on June 5 which will be addressed by SNP MSP Clare Adamson, convener of the cross-party group on accident prevention and safety awareness.

Katrina Phillips, CAPT’s chief executive, said: “Unintentional harm is a major cause of death and one of the most common causes of emergency hospital admissions for children in Scotland.

“We are fortunate that the Scottish Government understands the value of child accident prevention.

“Elsewhere in the UK proportionately more is spent on NHS treatment for preventable accidents with almost no investment in keeping children healthy and safe.”

Child Safety Week is an awareness campaign running across the UK and aimed at informing parents about accident risks to children and the simple steps they can take to avoid them.

CAPT says accidental injury is a major cause of death in Scotland and one of the most common causes of hospital admissions for children here.

“After the neo-natal period, accidents are the top cause of childhood death in Scotland, responsible for two out of five child deaths,” said the charity.

“Last year, 7260 children were admitted to hospital in an emergency after an accident. Some suffered life-changing injuries.

“Children under five are far more likely to be admitted to hospital, with falls, burns, poisoning, drowning and threats to breathing the main causes of injury.

“Children living in Scotland’s most deprived communities are more likely to suffer a preventable accident than those from the least deprived areas.”

A Facebook poll carried out by the charity for its safety week showed that parents felt under serious social media pressure to project the image of “perfect parenting”, with younger parents particularly vulnerable.

It said one in three parents did not want to admit their child has had an accident or near miss, and almost half of all parents were not prepared to admit they did not know about something that could pose a risk to their child.

However, CAPT said social media had a part to play in “breaking the taboo” and encouraging parents to ask questions.

It highlighted the example of laundry capsules, in which the liquid detergent is up to five times more concentrated than in powder, as a particular danger Phillips added: “As Child Safety Week approaches, we’re urging all those who care for young children to familiarise themselves with potential hazards and take the necessary precautions.

“Ensuring toxic household substances are locked away or out of reach and supervising children at all times, particularly when they are in the bath or near ponds, are just some examples of simple steps that can save lives.”