External causes are important factors of infant morbimortality and permanent impairments around the world. This quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study aimed to characterize emergency care for children and adolescents, aged from zero to 19 years old, victims of external causes of morbimortality in a university hospital in the countryside of São Paulo, Brazil, between the years of 2000 and 2006. By the end of the study, researchers found 6302 emergency attendances and most of the reported cases occurred among 15 to 19-year-old males adolescents, between Saturday and Monday, and from 7 to 12 pm. The main diagnoses of external causes were transport accidents, followed by assault. As a conclusion, it was found that the nurses' role in caring for patients who are recovering from accidents, violence and aggression is of fundamental importance for the families and community. It is essential in order to contribute to the planning and development of preventive and assisting actions.