Childhood Injury Prevention Programme

Preventable childhood injury was the third most common cause of death among children aged between 1 and 15 years in Singapore in 2004.  Every year, about 19,000 cases of unintentional childhood injuries are seen at KKH and NUH. About 50% of these injuries happened at home. Accidental injuries accounted for 13% of all deaths in children in 2004.

The Childhood Injury Prevention Programme (CHIPP) was launched on 19 June 2004 to create awareness and educate parents and caregivers on childhood accidental injuries, and how it can be prevented.

Aim of Programme
The programme aims to educate parents and caregivers about common childhood injuries and how these can be prevented through vigilance and taking appropriate safety precautions.

Focus in 2005
The focus for the CHIPP 2005 is on injury prevention at public places, such as swimming pools and playgrounds.

Focus in 2004
The focus for the CHIPP 2004 was on injury prevention at home, with the theme “Childhood Injury Prevention Begins at Home”.

Target Audience

• Parents and caregivers of children
• Children aged 6 - 12 years

Key Strategies & Activities
The following strategies are employed in the implementation of the CHIPP:

1. Talks and public seminars for parents and caregivers to gain practical knowledge on how to make their homes safer for their children. These talks will not only be in English but also in Tagalog and Bahasa Indonesia for domestic helpers.

2. Roadshows targeted at caregivers at various shopping malls and other public venues to bring the child safety messages to the heartlands.

3. Collaboration with community partners to reach out and educate families at the grassroots level. We will also be collaborating with hospitals in their educational programmes and activities. 

4. Pre-school competitions and other activities at pre-schools to educate young children on home safety issues.

5. Training of educators from pre-school centres to update them on child safety and encourage them to use educational resources developed for them.

6. Dissemination of relevant educational materials such as booklets, pamphlets and teachers’ guides, to help drive the child safety messages across. Exhibition panels and a child safety jingle for pre-schools and primary schools have also been produced. 

Contact person
Ms Janice Yeap
Email: Janice_YEAP@hpb.gov.sg
Tel: 6435 3272

More information about the Childhood Injury Prevention Programme (CHIPP) can be found at www.hpb.gov.sg/web/chipp