Children, because of their minority are extremely vulnerable to getting injured or even killed without proper adult supervision. Their immaturity leads them to underestimate threats or often, they would just be too helpless to defend themselves against danger.
The San Diego County's Health and Human Services Agency and Safe Kids San Diego recently released a report which emphasized most child fatalities are caused unintentionally. In San Diego alone, about 25 children under the age of 15 die each year because of motor vehicle accidents, falls and drowning.
Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for children aged 5 to 14.
Drowning accident on the other hand, is the primary cause of death for children aged 1-4 years old. Also, for children in this age group, the top causes of hospitalization are falls, poisoning and burns and scalds.
Infants or children younger than 1 year old often die because of suffocation or choking.
While the child restraint laws have helped to decrease statistics, drowning is a major concern in San Diego. According to Mary Beth Moran, coordinator of Safe Kids San Diego, drowning reached its highest peak since 10 years last July with 30 nearly drowning.
Child deaths are tragic, not only because of the loss of life and great potential but also because most of these deaths could have been easily prevented.
Adult supervision is the single most protection against child deaths. Parents should be aware that children should be watched over at all times and that all safety measures that can be used to protect children should be used.
Young children should be supervised around bodies of water or taught how to swim. They should be taught road safety, such as when it is safe to cross the street and where. Parents should also follow child restraint laws, few are actually even are aware that children should stay in the back seat until they are 13.
The vigilance of parents as well as their adherence to laws with regard to child safety goes a long way in curbing the incidence of child deaths.
The San Diego County's Health and Human Services Agency and Safe Kids San Diego recently released a report which emphasized most child fatalities are caused unintentionally. In San Diego alone, about 25 children under the age of 15 die each year because of motor vehicle accidents, falls and drowning.
Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for children aged 5 to 14.
Drowning accident on the other hand, is the primary cause of death for children aged 1-4 years old. Also, for children in this age group, the top causes of hospitalization are falls, poisoning and burns and scalds.
Infants or children younger than 1 year old often die because of suffocation or choking.
While the child restraint laws have helped to decrease statistics, drowning is a major concern in San Diego. According to Mary Beth Moran, coordinator of Safe Kids San Diego, drowning reached its highest peak since 10 years last July with 30 nearly drowning.
Child deaths are tragic, not only because of the loss of life and great potential but also because most of these deaths could have been easily prevented.
Adult supervision is the single most protection against child deaths. Parents should be aware that children should be watched over at all times and that all safety measures that can be used to protect children should be used.
Young children should be supervised around bodies of water or taught how to swim. They should be taught road safety, such as when it is safe to cross the street and where. Parents should also follow child restraint laws, few are actually even are aware that children should stay in the back seat until they are 13.
The vigilance of parents as well as their adherence to laws with regard to child safety goes a long way in curbing the incidence of child deaths.
