Profile of unintentional injuries involving children under ten years of age in emergency departments - Brazil, 2006 to 2007

External causes occupy a high position in the morbidity and mortality profile of youth and children in Brazil, configuring an important public health problem and demanding the deepening of the studies on its characteristics and magnitude. This article describes the profile of emergency care for accidents suffered by children (< 10 years of age) seen at emergency public in some services in Brazil in 2006 and 2007. The data were obtained from survey surveillance component of the Sentinel Service Surveillance System for Violence and Accidents (VIVA), of the Ministry of Health. Children represented about 20% of emergency visits by accidents, with male sex predominance and pre scholars' (2-5 years of age). The greater proportion of accidents (60%) occurred in the household, followed by public ways, school, leisure and sport practice places. Falls and burns had greater participation in the younger age group (<= 1), while transport accidents and other types of accidents presented greater frequency among children age 2 to 5. It is necessary to develop education programs since pre school and along the community, aiming of warning about risks and the need of adopt safe behavior in relation to the household environment and the development phase of the child.