A survey was conducted in schools between September 2004 and June 2005 among a nationally representative sample of fifth-grade students. Of the accidents reported by the 6,836 children surveyed in metropolitan France, 97% were accidents of daily life. The quarterly incidence was established at 9.2 accidents of daily life or traffic accidents per 100 children (confidence interval [8.3;10.1]). One-third of accidents of daily life (AcVC) occurred at school, 20% at home, and 54% during physical or sports activities. In 60% of cases, AcVCs led to emergency room visits, resulted in limitations on the child’s activities in 76% of cases, and led to an exemption from physical education and sports in 57% of cases. The occurrence of a serious daily life accident was 1.4 times more frequent among children aged 11 and older ([1.03;1.8]), and among those who regularly participated in sports ([1.1;1.8]). The risk of a serious household accident was 1.8 times higher in families with four or more children ([1.1;3.0]). No association was found between the occurrence of a household accident and gender, visual acuity, or the parents’ socioeconomic status. Based on self-reported data from fifth-grade children, these results need to be supplemented by further studies by age group. Prevention efforts must reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with everyday accidents (more than 250 child deaths per year).