Although there is a decrease in child deaths from malnutrition and infectious diseases, the death rate from accidents, now the biggest killer of children, is climbing and causes 40 percent of child deaths, Thursday's Beijing Daily reported.

The results of the survey were announced by Ding Zongyi, a professor with the Beijing Children's Hospital.

"The change has taken place since the improvement of people's living standard and medical conditions," said Ding who began research into children's accidental injuries in 1980s.

He said that with the increased use of automobiles and electrical appliances, car accidents and electrocution are becoming more frequent.

The Beijing Children's Hospital has made an analysis of 24,665 patients hospitalized over the last five years. The figures show that 5.14 percent of those hospitalized have accidental injuries such as scalds, car accidents or pet bites. The death rate from these injuries is equal to those caused by congenital deformities and tumors.

Ding said that children are easily exposed to danger, because they are active and lack experience and the ability to protect themselves. Accidents that do not kill may leave the child with both physical and psychological injuries.

The doctor's research has found that children are more likely to be injured at home, school, amusement parks and on the way to school or their home.

He said that accidents are also the main cause of child deaths in many other foreign countries. He added that China has been leftbehind in research and in the prevention of accidental injuries.

Ding said that the prevention of injuries should be added to children's health education, prominent warning notices should be erected in public places posing potential danger to children, and home appliances should be designed with safety in mind.

(Xinhua News Agency May 23, 2002)