Easily preventable accidents kill almost 300 Australian children a year and are the major cause of death among youngsters, a research showed on Monday.

"The five top causes of unintentional injury for children are road traffic accidents, drowning, burns, falls and poisoning. Most, if not all, could be prevented," University of New South Wales (UNSW) injury risk management research center spokeswoman Shauna Sherker said in a statement.

The report has estimated accidents send 66,000 Australian children to hospital each year, costing the community billions of dollars.

"Child injury prevention is acknowledged as an Australian national priority, not just because of the pain and suffering these accidents represent for our children, but because of the stresses and strains they bring to the health system and families as well," UNSW Professor Paul Barach said.

Medical and injury risk specialists will meet this week to discuss the findings of last year's World Health Organization report on child injury prevention.

Discussions will include vehicle safety design, childhood drowning prevention and the causes of burn injuries.

(Xinhua News Agency April 14, 2009)