FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 29, 2001
Alaska Improves its Child Safety Ranking
More Injury Prevention Work Needed to Protect Alaska's Children
According to a recent study released by the Department of Health and Social Services, injuries are the leading cause of death for Alaska's children and adolescents. Beginning at age one, more Alaskan kids die of injury than of all other causes combined. For every Alaskan child or teen who is fatally injured, about 13 are hospitalized due to a non-fatal injury, and many more seek medical help at emergency departments, health clinics, and doctor's offices.
"The good news is that Alaska's child injury death rate decreased 20% during the last decade, which ranks us in fourth place among the 50 states instead of the first place position Alaska held in the previous decade," says Commissioner Jay Livey. "The bad news is that in our state, about 80 children die from injury each year and over 1,000 are hospitalized."
The study, Serious and Fatal Child and Adolescent Injuries in Alaska, 1994-1998, shows no single primary cause of serious injury or death to children. Alaska's children are being seriously harmed and are dying from both intentional and unintentional injuries. "The top five causes of death from injury are suicide, traffic crashes, homicide, drowning, and fire," says Martha Moore, the Department's Injury Surveillance and Prevention Program Manager and one of the study's authors. She notes that falls, suicide attempts, traffic crashes, sports, and bicycle injuries are the top five causes of injury hospitalizations in the state.
Injuries, especially unintentional injuries, are preventable. Karen E. Pearson, Public Health Director, applauds Alaska's injury prevention programs, including "Kids Don't Float" (which promotes life jacket use); a comprehensive smoke alarm distribution program; community bicycle safety events; "Walk to School" days that focus on pedestrian safety; and Child Passenger Safety car and booster seat check-ups.
All Alaskans can use the report to better understand the causes of child and adolescent injuries and deaths in Alaska, and to develop and support appropriate prevention programs.
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More Information:
- Community Health and Emergency Medical Services (CHEMS)
- Printer friendly version of this press release (Adobe acrobat file)
For more information or a copy of the study, contact Martha Moore, Division of Public Health, (907) 465-8631.
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