North Shore-LIJ Health System leads the state’s Safe Kids Coalition

A new study released this week on summer accidents involving children ranks New York as the nation’s fourth safest state. According to the Safe Kids U.S. Summer Safety Ranking Report, compiled by Safe Kids Worldwide, New York’s accidental injury and death rate in summer was 1.97 per 100,000 children, nearly half the national average of 3.67 per 100,000 children). In an encouraging sign, New York has experienced a 25.5 percent reduction in the summer accident rate involving children over the past five years.

The North Shore-LIJ Health System recently became the lead agency for the New York State Safe Kids Coalition and its chapters, headed by Rosemarie Ennis, associate director of North Shore-LIJ’s Department of Professional and Public Health Education. “We are proud of New York’s ranking, and know that there is still much work to be done to keep our kids safe in the summer months,” said Ms. Ennis.

Because of the increase in outdoor activities, summers are historically the most dangerous time of year for children. For instance, the report showed that an average of 17 children a day – or a total of 2,143 children -- died from May 1 to Aug. 31, 2004 (the last available reporting period) due to injuries, many of which could have been prevented. Also in 2004, 2.4 million children made emergency visits to hospitals due to accidental injuries, many of which resulted in paralysis, brain damage and other serious disabilities.

According to previous Safe Kids Worldwide research, five of the most common causes of accidental injuries and deaths involving children during summer months are:

• Drowning (increases 89 percent in the summer over the annual monthly average);
  
• Biking (increases 45 percent);
  
• Falls (increases 21 percent);
  
• Motor vehicle passenger injuries (increases 20 percent); and
  
• Pedestrian injuries (increases 16 percent)

Safe Kids Worldwide recommends the following steps to reduce accidental injury and death to children during the summer months:

• Enact child safety legislation such as four-sided fencing around home pools and booster seat requirements;
  
• Educate adults and children about the right precautions to take. For example, a properly-fitted helmet has proven to reduce the risk of brain injury by as much as 88 percent;
  
• Use safety devices, such as installing window guards on each window above the first floor to reduce the risk of falls; and
  
• Strengthen the enforcement of existing child safety laws.

Media Contact: Kristen Bryceland 516-465-8253