CDC: Accidental kids' deaths down 30 percent - WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and Sports

CDC: Accidental kids' deaths down 30 percent

Posted:

ATLANTA (WKOW) -- Federal health officials say accidents are killing far fewer children and teenagers than in the past.

The death rate dropped about 30 percent from 2000 to 2009. Experts credit a decline in traffic fatalities, which annually account for half or more of kids' deaths caused by accidents. Childhood deaths from drowning, fires and falls also decreased.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the report Monday. The CDC did not examine causes for the decline.

Mississippi continued to have the worst numbers, with an accidental death rate in 2009 of 25 per 100,000 people ages 19 and younger. Massachusetts still had the lowest rate, at 4 per 100,000.

Accidental injuries are the leading cause of death for youths ages 1 to 19.

Powered by WorldNow
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and WKOW. All Rights Reserved.
For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Persons with disabilities who need assistance with issues relating to the content of this station's public inspection file should contact Program Manager Jessica Miller at 608-661-2794. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, at 888-835-5322 (TTY) or at fccinfo@fcc.gov.