Traumatic Deaths of Children in the United States: Currently Available Prevention Strategies

The causes of traumatic deaths, including suicide, of children 14 yrs of age & younger are presented. Available prevention strategies are described & the number of preventable deaths is calculated. With the implementation of only 12 currently available prevention strategies, childhood deaths from trauma could be reduced by 29%. The implications of these strategies are discussed, as well as the areas for which no effective countermeasures exist & which require further research. (37 refs.)