The Select Panel for the Promotion of Child Health: Injury Recommendations in Retrospect

In December 1980, the Select Panel for the Promotion of Child Health made a series of recommendations regarding the health needs of the nation's children. Among the panel's recommendations were several on the topic of injury prevention. This article reviews the formulation, nature, and implementation of these recommendations. Three problems in formulating the recommendations are discussed: (1) a limited knowledge base, (2) disagreement on appropriate social strategies, and (3) concern over the tepid national will to do something about childhood injuries and violence. Despite these problems, recommendations were made on the topics of motor vehicle safety, and of home and neighborhood safety, as well as on the development of a national data base on injuries and violence that could adequately inform future social policy. Since 1980 there has been a decline in most types of nonintentional death for children as well as for other age groups. Significant developments have been realized in each of the areas of the panel's recommendations, although not always those anticipated by the panel's report.