Review

Risk sharing

Children at Risk? Safety as a Social Value
Helen Roberts, Susan Smith, Carol Bryce
Open University Press, 1996, £12.99

The authors of this well-written book develop their arguments on childhood accidents from the twin premises that neither the high overall accident rate nor the steep social class gradient of risk towards children living in poorer neighbourhoods is inevitable.

The results presented are based on quantitative and qualitative research undertaken in close association with the residents of Corkerhill, a housing scheme of 580 dwellings on the outskirts of Glasgow.

Case studies of experiences of accidents and ‘near-miss’ incidents are used to provide a broader understanding of the antecedents of accidents (not provided by the usual focus of accident epidemiology which relies heavily on their injurious consequences). Supported by a comprehensive research literature and empirical evidence, many of the assumptions and relevance of what is described as the dominant accident prevention strategy, with its emphasis on changing behaviour through education and information, are challenged.

The authors discuss in detail the negative health effects associated with ‘information overload’, which simply burdens parents trying to raise children in what they know are hazardous environments with additional anxieties.

Although the research is based on the experiences of Corkerhill residents, the results have relevance for all communities with similar socio-economic characteristics. The authors demonstrate that the distribution of risk skewed towards areas like Corkerhill is not inevitable. They argue persuasively that the issue of childhood accidents is one for which there should be wider social responsibility.

The book is recommended reading for all those interested in broadening their approach to accident epidemiology and in developing approaches to accident prevention based around risk identification and reduction and informed by the collective experience and wisdom of local people.