Volunteers teach children about accident prevention.

A total of 242 children were sent to the Children’s Hospital of Fudan University due to accidents on June 30 and July 1, marking the beginning of the summer holiday period where accidents among children increase.

Among the children, 15 suffered falls, five were involved in traffic accidents, and one suffered a severe brain injury after an accident involving a big electric fan on a construction site.

Doctors said the summer holiday period sees an increase in accidents involving children, while calling for more education around children’s accident prevention and control.

The hospital has teamed up with charity organizations and Safe Kids China, a non-governmental organization, to set up Children’s No Injury Day on the first Wednesday of every July to promote knowledge around accident prevention. Eight courses will be given to local children this summer to teach them how to protect themselves from accidents.

According to Safe Kids China, accidents were the top killer of Chinese children and teenagers aged below 19 from 2010 to 2015, covering 40 to 50 percent of casualties.

About 50 million Chinese children suffer accidents every year, 71,000 of whom die as a result. Drowning, traffic accidents and falls are the top three causes of death, and the numbers are climbing annually.

“Our hospital receives many children suffering accidents every summer holiday, the majority of which can be prevented,” said Dr Zheng Jicui from the emergency department of Children’s Hospital of Fudan University.

“Education and training to teach parents and children how to avoid accidents and what to do whenever accidents occur are extremely important in preventing and reducing casualties.”