Car accidents continue to kill more children than any other cause, according to a study published this week. The most recent data from Oregon are consistent with the new study results.
In this week's report, researchers studied deaths of children up to age 17 between 2000 and 2006 in San Diego County. Traffic accidents caused over 40% of the deaths, way more than the number two cause, asphyxia (22.7%). Penetrating trauma was the third leading cause of death at nearly 18%. (Fraga, et. al., Children at Danger, Injury Fatalities among Children in San Diego County, Eur J Epidemiol. 2010 Jan 19. [Epub ahead of print])
Oregon children also die, most often, because of traffic accidents. The good news from the Oregon data from 2000 - 2006 is rate of death from car accidents declined. We attribute that to better use of child safety seats, booster seats, and seat belts. We on the Safe Kids Legislative Committee spearheaded bill to update the law on booster seat usage in 2007, knowing that the data showed it would save lives AND reduces the severity of injury. Thanks to the leadership of Lake Oswego's Senator Devlin and Representative MacPherson, the bill got hearings and passed.
Oregon children can also thank committed safety professionals and volunteers who hold car seat clinics, educating parents on how to use safety seats and booster seats PROPERLY. In particular, Portland's Legacy Emanuel Children's Hospital,Tammy Franks and the Alliance for Community Traffic Safety have done a great job leading that effort. If you love a child, make sure the parents bring themselves and their seat to one of the clinics. Here's the schedule of upcoming clinics.
Jeff Merrick, Oregon Trial Attorney
503-665-4234
