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For immediate release: November 18, 2004 (04-133)

Contacts:
Jennifer C. Sabel, Epidemiologist, Injury Prevention Program 360-236-3756
Dan Hammock, Communications Office 360-236-4074

Report outlines prevention strategies to reduce childhood injury in Washington
Injury leading cause of death for children; vast majority of childhood injuries are preventable

OLYMPIA ¾ Vehicle crashes, suffocation and drowning top the list of the causes of childhood injuries in our state. A new report on by the Washington State Department of Health provides an overview of the leading causes of injury among Washington children, as well as best practices for injury prevention.

"The vast majority of childhood injuries are preventable," said Secretary of Health Mary Selecky. "We can reduce the number of injuries and deaths by educating adults and children about how to prevent injuries, providing safety devices to families in need, and supporting legislation that protects children."

Injury is the leading cause of death and disability for Washington children 1 to 17 years old. In fact, injuries cause more deaths to children each year than all other causes combined. An average of about 218 Washington children under 18 die and 3,400 are hospitalized from an injury each year.

The report finds motor vehicle crashes, suffocation and drowning were the leading cause of childhood injury-related deaths in Washington from 1999 to 2001. The report outlines some key strategies for preventing these and other, injuries:

  • Motor vehicle injuries can be prevented by increasing the availability of child safety seats and parent education, enforcing the graduated licensing law for teen drivers and enforcing seat belt and child safety seat laws. Parents should model safe and sober driving behaviors and talk to their teens about the dangers of drinking and driving. Law enforcement efforts to discourage driving under the influence should be continued and increased, as possible.
     
  • Suffocation injuries can be prevented by putting infants to sleep in an appropriate crib environment, supervising infants while eating and ensuring children play with age-appropriate toys.
     
  • Drowning prevention strategies include supervision by caregivers, swimming lessons that include open water instruction, four-sided pool fencing and barriers and education and awareness programs for children and adults. Children should wear appropriately sized life jackets while they are on a dock, boat, raft or inner tube and when they are around open water.
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    Risk factors associated with childhood injury in Washington include the youngest and oldest age groups (younger than 1 year old or age 15-17), male gender, poverty, lack of formal education, substance abuse, bullying, living in a rural community, and living or working on a farm. Impairment by drugs and/or alcohol by caregivers or older children was a factor in 19 percent of all the injury deaths, 33 percent of homicides, and 22 percent of suicides among Washington children 0-17 years old.

    The new report is designed to provide correct and consistent prevention messages to be delivered to the public by individuals who work with parents and communities. It is available on line at the Injury Prevention Program Web site, (http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/Injury/pubs/childhood_injury_report.htm).

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