Accidents Leading Cause of Death for Young Kids

The San Diego County’s Health and Human Services agency issued a report last week announcing that accidents are the leading cause of death of San Diegans under the age of 15. Approximately 25 children die each year in accidents in San Diego County, mostly by drowning, falls, or in motor vehicle accidents.

Mary Beth Moran, of Safe Kids San Diego, said child-restraint laws and helmet laws have helped reduce the number of injuries and deaths involving kids, but that drowning deaths remain a particular problem.

“We’ve had 30 near-drownings in the month of July, the highest peak in the past 10 years that we’ve seen,” Moran said.

The report is a collection of data from local hospitals, and from the medical examiner’s office. Other findings include:

• Suffocation and choking is the leading cause of death for infants; • Drowning is the No. 1 cause of death of children ages 1 thru 4; • Motor vehicle accidents, namely car accidents, are the leading cause of death for children ages 5 to 14.

Moran reiterated that parents should make sure children learn to swim at the earliest possible age, and that kids are properly restrained in moving vehicles.

Source: San Diego Union Tribune

The injury and accident lawyers at Walton Law Firm LLP represents individuals and families throughout San Diego County who have been injured in motor vehicle accidents, construction accidents, dog bites, and other personal injury matters.