10 Common Causes of Death for Children

Every year, babies and children tragically lose their lives from illness, injuries and accidents. The following list of 10 common causes of death for children will give you the information necessary to help prevent your own youngsters from becoming a statistic.

1. Car accidents. Car crashes are a leading children's death cause, yet most kids can survive the impact of a crash if they're properly secured in the right child safety seat. That's why it's of the utmost importance to familiarize yourself with child auto safety laws and follow them to the letter. Never put your child into a booster seat early or face a newborn baby carrier forward before he's big enough. The good news is that when your child is in the correct size car seat and it's properly installed in your car, if you do have an accident, he'll be well protected.

2. Drownings. A pool may provide countless hours of family entertainment, but it also means that you need to be vigilant about taking proper safety steps. It's essential to fence in your pool to keep curious little ones away unless you or another adult is with them. You can also use special safety monitors that can alert you if anyone goes near the water without your knowledge. These can be life saving steps. Just keep in mind that while swimming pools are the site of most drownings, ocean, lakes, rivers and ponds can also poses serious dangers, too. The best way to keep everyone safe is to supervise youngsters near water at all times. Always err on the side of being overcautious so you won't have to live with any regrets later.

3. Fires. You know the saying, "Where there's smoke, there's fire." Well, both of these factors can be fatal to your child. Many deaths that occur in a house fire could be avoided with proper use of fire alarms. Although most households have these important safety tools installed, many do not function properly and therefore aren't effective when a fire actually starts. Also keep in mind that alcohol is often involved in fatal house fires. In many cases, adults have been drinking heavily and either start a fire with their carelessness or else they just don't react fast enough when the situation occurs.

4. Running in front of a car. Ever since your child could walk, you've probably told him not to run out in the road in front of a moving car. But would he remember this if his ball rolls into traffic? Many children dart out and are killed, making it crucial to do whatever you can to get your words to stick. Furthermore, children can even be run over in your own driveway; so you'll need to take every precaution you can to prevent this danger as well.

5. Bicycle accidents. Learning to ride a bike may come naturally for some kids, but bicycle-related deaths occur all too often. Most of these deaths could be avoided by insisting that your child wear a proper-fitting helmet whenever he goes for a bike ride. Take the time to teach your child bike safety laws and also make the helmet mandatory gear.

6. Poisoning. Do you have safety latches on your cabinets and keep all of your chemicals and medications out of reach of your little ones? Since poisoning is a major children's cause of death, these simple preventative steps can be truly essential. Also make sure to use child safety tops on your prescriptions and remind your little one not to put anything in his mouth, no matter how tempting it looks.

7. Falls. Windows and toddlers can be a dangerous combination, particularly if your home or apartment has multiple levels. Every year, kids fall out of windows and are killed. Putting child safety locks on your windows or using protective bars can easily help to avoid another such tragedy.

8. Suicides. You may be surprised to know that suicides are a leading cause of death among teenagers. If you're the parent of a teen, this means it's important to be on the lookout for any signs that he's troubled, stressed or depressed. You can also keep the channels of communication open so he will feel free to confide in you about any problems that exist. If you do feel concerned, always seek help from a professional.

9. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. If you're familiar with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, you know that there's no known explanation for this sudden death that can happen to an infant or newborn. Nonetheless, there are some simple, but important, things you can do to reduce the risks. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommend putting infants on their backs to sleep. You should also make sure to remove all bedding and toys from the crib, since these can pose suffocation hazards. These simple steps can make a big difference.

10.  Birth defects. Even before your child is born, you can already start ensuring you're giving him the healthiest start. For instance, once you find out you're pregnant, make sure you get proper prenatal care  and eat a balanced diet in order to minimize the risk for birth defects and other challenges that may be life threatening if they aren't addressed right away. A little prevention can have some big protective effective.


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