Assessing the Role of the Child's Caregiver in Consumer Product Risk Management. M. Brickley and N. Rivera, Inchcape Testing Services, 195 Anderson Ave., Moonachie, NJ 07074
Studies suggest that caregiver vigilance is a key factor in the risk of injury to children. Lack of caregiver vigilance can lead to injury and even death. The authors will explore the relative weight of caregiver vigilance among other factors which lead to child injury. A thorough review of the literature will be undertaken to determine the role of the caregiver in accidental injury among children. In addition, data from the 1992 National Electronic Injury Surveillance System will be analyzed to determine the percentage of injuries to children that were related to neglect. Finally, the data collected will be applied to the management of risk encountered by manufacturers of consumer products both intended and not intended by the manufacturer for use by children. The types of products that present a greater risk of causing injury due to lack of caregiver vigilance will be explored with conclusions drawn as to the characteristics of those products which make unsupervised children more susceptible to injury.