Death Among Children and Adolescents
Alternate Names : Childhood and Adolescent Causes of Death
Pictures & Images
 See all Pictures & Images
Description
With the exception of children under one year of age, the number one killer of children, adolescents, and young adults is ACCIDENTS.
This sad statistic holds for all ages up to 44 years. This is a statistic that can be reduced only by continued attention to safety.
A leading risk is the automobile. Most states allow adolescents to obtain a beginner's license at age 15 and a driver's license at 16. Adolescents have the ability to be among the best of drivers. They have quick reflexes, excellent vision and hearing (both peak during adolescence), and are capable of rapid information processing. What they do NOT have is learned automatic responses to common situations, experience, and judgment learned from years of driving.
In addition, adolescent boys often display aggressive driving, reckless driving, and a need to prove themselves. Because of these traits, boys are primarily responsible for the increased rate of deaths in their age group.
No other age group comes close to the high automobile accident mortality rate than that of young inexperienced drivers.
Insurance companies know the factors involved and have made recommendations to reduce the likelihood of teenage driving fatalities. See Automobile Safety and the Teenage Driver.
|
