Unicef and the World Health Organization say that 830,000 children are killed around the world in accidents. Their report, the World Report on Child Injury Prevention, is the first report to gather all known information on child injuries and deaths around the globe.
The report’s estimates are acknowledged to be broad because so many poor countries are unable to collect many health statistics. The findings also take into account that there are many children who are injured or killed without receiving medical care.
According to the report, the most common causes of fatal child injuries around the world include:
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Burn injuries • Drowning accidents • Fall Accidents
• Poison
Other common causes of death include murder, serious illnesses, diseases, childbirth, and abortion.
The United Nations is encouraging governments to require safety measures, such as pool fences and bicycle helmets, that could save thousands of kids’ lives each year. The UN Children’s Fund and WHO report says use of lifejackets, childproof medicines, window guards, and smoke alarms, could also save many lives.
In the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 12,175 children are killed in accidents each year:
• US motor vehicle collisions continue to be the leading cause of death for kids 1 year of age or older.
• Suffocation is the number one cause of death among kids younger than 1.
• Drowning accidents is a leading cause of death for kids ages 1 to 4.
CDC injury prevention chief Ileana Arias says making kids younger than 8 ride in booster sides, passing graduated driver’s license laws in more US states, and barring teens from driving with other teens or at night could save lives.
In Massachusetts and other US states, these lists of common injuries and deaths can be grounds for personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits if another party was negligent in causing the motor vehicle crash, burn accident, dog attack, fall accident, suffocation accident, or another injury accident to occur.
Report Sounds Alarm on Child Accidents, NY Times, December 9, 2008
Preventable injuries kill 2000 children every day, WHO, December 10, 2008
Car Crashes, Falls Top List of Accidental Injuries for Kids, US News and World Report, December 10, 2008
Related Web Resources:
Read the World Report on Child Injury Prevention (PDF)
UNICEF
In Massachusetts, contact our Boston personal injury lawyers at Altman & Altman LLP today.