CDC report on unintentional injuries in children
The latest CDC report says that the majority of children and adolescent accidental injuries in the US are due to vehicular accidents, drowning, and falls. From 2001 to 2006, approximately 55 million children were treated at emergency facilities for so-called “unintentional injuries”, leading to a yearly estimate of 9 million cases. Many accidents were non-fatal. However, a large number of accidents also resulted in deaths.
Other information given in the CDC report are:
- The highest death rates in children of all ages were among occupants of cars and other forms of motor vehicles;
- Drowning was the leading cause of death due to unintentional injury for children aged one to four years old;
- For older children aged 5 to 19 years old, fatal injuries were due to being an occupant in a motor vehicle crash;
- Poisoning and falls accounted for the highest rates of non-fatal injuries to young children aged one to four years old.
This indicates that the risks for different types of injuries are age-related and that parents and caregivers should therefore take precautionary measures according the minor’s age.
The full report, “CDC Childhood Injury Report: Patterns of Unintentional Injuries among 0-19 Year Olds in the United States, 2000-2006,” is available at www.cdc.gov/safechild/Child_Injury_Data.htm.
For preventive measures recommended by the CDC, check out www.cdc.gov/safechild.
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