I don’t like to use the word “accident.” Accident implies that what happens is unpreventable and the resulting injuries are inevitable. That’s a false assumption when it comes to our children.
CDC science shows that most unintentional childhood injuries can be prevented. Injuries do not have to be an accepted risk of growing up.
On December 10, we released the CDC Childhood Injury Report, which outlines patterns of unintentional injuries among children in the United States. This report was released in conjunction with the launch of the World Health Organization and UNICEF’s World Report on Child Injury Prevention. These reports provide the important research needed to examine the public health issue of preventing childhood injuries.
Our data show that in the United States alone, about 33 children die every day because of preventable childhood injuries. On average, two children die every day as a result of being poisoned. Another two children die from being burned. Three children a day die as a result of drowning. Transportation-related injuries account for the majority of the 26 other children who die from injuries each day; falls and other injuries account for the remainder.
Think about it: 33 children a day – about 12,000 children a year – dying from injuries that can be prevented. Add to that number more than 9 million young people who are treated for injuries every year in emergency departments. Then think about what an impact we can have if we focus on changing those numbers.
That’s why, in conjunction with the release of the child injury reports, CDC’s Injury Center is launching a new initiative called Protect the Ones You Love: Child Injuries Are Preventable. We want to raise parents’ awareness about the leading causes of child injury and empower parents to prevent these injuries from occurring or make them less serious if they do occur.
Check out our tools at www.cdc.gov/safechild. You’ll find fact sheets, podcasts, e-cards, media guides and more. We offer prevention tips for five leading causes of injury: burns and fires, drowning, falls, poisonings, and road traffic injuries. We encourage you to use these resources to educate, build awareness and promote childhood injury prevention.
Let’s erase childhood accidents from our vocabulary. Together we can empower parents to keep their children safe. Let me know how we can help get you involved.