34 The Courier sun • health • JUNE 2, 2016 for breaking news visit www.qns.com ▶health Child fatalities drop dramatically across the city The Health Department, in its lead role in the New York City Child Fatality Review Advisory Team, released its annual report which details child injury deaths over a 15-year period. Yearly numbers of injury deaths fell from 61 deaths in 1999 to 46 deaths in 2013. New York City’s child injury death rate continues to be substantially lower than the national rate (four vs. eight deaths per 100,000 children). Most injury deaths were unintentional. Motor vehicle and fire-related deaths, the two leading causes of unintentional child injury deaths, declined in the 15-year time period examined in this report. The substantial decrease in motor vehicle-related deaths among black children contributed to reduced disparities in unintentional child injury deaths overall. The report reviews trends in injury deaths among children ages 1 to 12 years in New York City. The report can be found at nyc.gov/health. “While we are encouraged to see a decline in overall injury death rates among children, any death of a child is a tragedy,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett. “The continued excess rates in communities of color and among children living in poverty are unacceptable, especially as these deaths are largely preventable. We will continue our efforts to create safer streets for children in every community in our city.” While NYC children continue to have a lower rate of injury death than children nationwide, injuries still pose a risk to New York City children. From 1999 to 2013, there were 723 injury deaths among NYC children. Unintentional injury death rates have declined since 1999, but rates are highest among children living in very high-poverty areas and among black children. Overall, intentional (homicide and suicide) injury deaths accounted for approximately one-third of all deaths. Rates were relatively constant between 1999 and 2013, but increased among black and Asian children. Rates were also consistently higher among children in high-poverty areas when compared to children in low- and medium-poverty communities. The overwhelming majority of intentional deaths among children were homicides, which have fallen from 73 (1999-2003) to 50 (2009-2013). Child homicide death rates remained highest among children ages 1 to 2 years, followed by children ages 3 to 4 years. Suicides among children ages 9 to 12 years old, while rare in NYC, have increased over the past 15 years. The number of suicide deaths rose from two from 1999 through 2003 to 13 between 2009 and 2013. This trend is similar to a citywide increase of suicide deaths among all age groups, as well as nationally among children during this same time period. “The safety and well-being of our city’s children remains a top priority and I am pleased that child injury deaths have declined over a 15-year period,” said ACS Commissioner Gladys Carrión. “While these findings are encouraging, any child fatality is one too many. We will continue to collaborate with our partners from other city agencies to address the underlying issues that lead to these unfortunate, often preventable, fatalities.” The child injury deaths report was authored by the Health Department and the Child Fatality Review Advisory Team, a multidisciplinary committee of representatives from city agencies as well as child welfare and medical experts appointed by the mayor, the City Council speaker, and the public advocate. It was formed in 2006 by Local Law 115 to review and report on injuries as preventable causes of death among NYC children under the age of 13. From the New York City Health Department Multi Specialty Physical Rehabilitation Center SPINAL & SPORTS INJURIES, ARTHRITIS, POST SURGICAL & MORE! • Pain Management • Internal Medicine • Acupuncture • Chiropractic • Physical Therapy We accept most types of Insurance & Workers Compensation Please call to make an appointment: 516-218-2222 40 East Merrick Road, Suite #104 · Valley Stream, NY 11580
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