Keeping Kids Safe

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Keeping Kids Safe

• A presentation by the

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About the National Youth Violence Prevention
Resource Center

• Developed by the Centers for Disease Control and
  Prevention (CDC) and other Federal partners, the
  Resource Center provides current information
  developed by Federal agencies or with Federal
  support pertaining to youth violence.
• A gateway for professionals, parents, youth and
  other interested individuals, the Resource Center
  offers the latest tools to facilitate discussion
  with children, to resolve conflicts nonviolently,
  to stop bullying, to prevent teen suicide, and to
  end violence committed by and against young
  people.

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About the National Youth Violence Prevention
Resource Center

• Resources include
• Fact sheets and statistics
• Best practices documents
• Funding and conference announcements
• Research bulletins
• Surveillance reports
• Profiles of promising programs

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How to Reach the Resource Center

• www.safeyouth.org Web
• 1-866-SAFEYOUTH Toll-Free
• (1-866-723-3968)
• 1-888-503-3952 Toll-Free TTY
• NYVPRC_at_safeyouth.org E-mail
• 301-562-1001 FAX

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Dr. Ileana Arias

• Director of CDCs National Center
• for Injury Prevention and Control

• Former Director of Clinical Training and
  Professor of Clinical Psychology at the
  University of Georgia in Athens.
• Dr. Arias is a clinical psychologist with
  research expertise in intimate partner and family
  violence. She has authored numerous
  peer-reviewed articles in professional journals
  and has given presentations across the US and in
  several foreign countries.
• Dr. Arias holds an AB from Barnard College, an MA
  and PhD, both in psychology, from the State
  University of New York at Stony Brook.

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Scope of the Problem

• Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of
  death among children, youth, and young adults up
  to age 44.
• About one in every three people treated in an
  emergency department is treated for an injury.
• In 2002, more than 877,700 young people ages 10
  to 24 were injured from violent acts.
  Approximately 1 in 13 required hospitalization.
• Homicide is the second leading cause of death
  among young people ages 15 to 24 and suicide is
  the third leading cause of death among young
  people ages 15 to 24.

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10 Leading Causes of Death, United States 2002,
All Races, Both Sexes
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting
System (WISQARS) online. (2005) cited 2005
Dec 6. Available from www.cdc.gov/ncipc/wisqar
s
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10 Leading Causes of Injury Deaths, United States
2002, All Races, Both Sexes
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Centers for Injury Prevention and
Control Web-based Injury Statistics Query and
Reporting System (WISQARS) online. (2005)
cited 2005 Dec 6. Available from
www.cdc.gov/ncipc/wisqars
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Leading Causes of DeathAmong Youth Ages 5-24

• 1
• Ages 5-14 motor vehicle crashes
• Ages 15-24 motor vehicle crashes
• 2
• Ages 5-14 drowning
• Ages 15-24 homicide
• 3
• Ages 5-14 congenital anomalies and suicide
• Ages 15-24 suicide and homicide

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10 Leading Causes of Nonfatal Injury, United
States 2004, All Races, Both Sexes
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Centers for Injury Prevention and
Control Web-based Injury Statistics Query and
Reporting System (WISQARS) online. (2005)
cited 2005 Dec 6. Available from
www.cdc.gov/ncipc/wisqars
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Leading Cause of Nonfatal Injuries Among Youth
Ages 5-24

• 1
• Ages 5-14 unintentional falls
• Ages 15-24 unintentional struck by/against
• 2
• Ages 5-14 unintentional struck by/against
• Ages 15-24 motor vehicle crashes
• 3
• Ages 5-14 unintentional cut/Pierce and
  unintentional overexertion
• Ages 15-24 unintentional fall

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Preventing Motor Vehicle Injuries and Death

• More than half of the children killed in motor
  vehicle crashes in 2003 were not wearing a
  seatbelt or other restraint.

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Preventing Motor Vehicle Injuries and Death

• What you can do
• Parents/Adults
• Be sure your child rides in an age, weight, and
  height appropriate child safety seat or booster
  seat, correctly installed in the back seat, on
  every trip.
• Children should ride in a safety seat with a
  harness as long as possible and then ride in
  belt-positioning booster until at least age 8.
  Once your child has outgrown the booster seat, be
  sure that he or she always wears a seatbelt in
  any vehicle.
• Children
• Always sit in the back seat of a car. And stay
  safely buckled in your child safety seat, booster
  seat, or seat belt, even for short trips.

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Preventing Motor Vehicle Injuries and Death

• Of the children under 14 years of age who were
  killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2003, more
  than two-thirds were riding with a drinking
  driver. 

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Preventing Motor Vehicle Injuries and Death

• What you can do
• Parents/Adults
• Do not drink and drive.
• Do not allow children and youth to ride with
  someone who has been drinking.
• Children/youth
• Do not get into a car being driven by someone who
  has been drinking.
• Find a safe way home for a friend who has been
  drinking.

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Prevent Drowning

• Drowning is the second leading cause of death
  among children and youth ages 5-14.
• Children can drown in the time it takes to answer
  the phone.
• Children can drown in less than an inch of
  liquid.

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Prevent Drowning

• What you can do
• Parents/Adults
• Always supervise children closely around water.
  Never leave a child alone near a pool,
  water-filled bucket, bath tub, or any standing
  water.
• If you have a pool at your home
• Provide four-sided pool fencing.
• Provide doors or gates with locks.
• Remember that inflatable toys are not safety
  devices.
• Children/youth
• Dont swim without supervision from an adult or
  lifeguard.
• People of all ages
• Avoid consuming alcohol before any water
  recreation.
• Use a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket when
  on a boat ,canoe or kayak.

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Fire and Burns

• Fire is the third leading cause of death in
  children ages 5-9.
• Smoking is the 1 cause of fire-related deaths in
  the home.
• Four out of five US fire-related deaths in 2003
  occurred in homes.

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Preventing Fire-Related Deaths and Injuries

• What you can do
• Parents/Adults
• Install smoke alarms on every floor of your home
  and near rooms where people sleep.
• Test smoke alarms monthly.
• Do not smoke in bed or leave candles burning
  unattended.
• Children/youth
• Ask your parents about your fire escape plan.
• Never play with matches, lighters or open flames.
• Do not cook without supervision.
• Do not use fireworks when unsupervised.
• People of all ages
• Prepare a fire escape plan and practice it with
  your family.
• Never leave food cooking unattended.

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Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

• At least 1.4 million people sustain traumatic
  brain injuries (TBI) in this country every year.
  
• Of those, approximately 1.1 million, or 75,
  sustain a mild TBI.
• Motor vehicle traffic crashes and assaults are
  two of the leading causes of TBI.
• The two age groups at highest risk for TBI are
• Birth to 4 year olds, and
• 15 to 19 year olds.

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Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

• Many receive no medical care after a TBI.
• Potential long-term problems resulting from TBI,
  include
• persistent headache,
• pain,
• fatigue,
• vision or hearing problems,
• memory problems,
• confusion,
• sleep disturbances, or
• mood changes.

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Concussion

• A concussion is a type of TBI caused by a bump,
  blow or jolt to the head.
• More than 300,000 people sustain sport- and
  recreation-related TBIs every year in this
  country. Many occur among high school athletes.
• The signs and symptoms of concussion include
• headache,
• nausea,
• balance problems or dizziness, and
• double or fuzzy vision.

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Concussion Preventionand Management

• What you can do
• People of all ages
• Remember the signs and symptoms of concussion
  and if you notice any of them, seek immediate
  medical attention.

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Concussion Preventionand Management

• The CDC has developed a new tool kit for high
  school coaches to help them prevent, recognize,
  and manage concussions among high school
  athletes.
• Heads Up Concussion in High School Sports
  contains a Video and DVD, a guide for coaches,
  fact sheets for athletes and parents in English
  and Spanish, a wallet-sized reference card and
  clipboard sticker for coaches, posters, and
  CD-ROM with related TBI resources.
• The toolkit can be ordered from the CDC free of
  charge online at http//www.cdc.gov/ncipc/tbi/Coa
  ches_Tool_Kit.htm.

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Playground Safety

• Each year in the United States, emergency
  departments treat more than 200,000 children ages
  14 and younger for playground-related injuries.
• About 45 of playground-related injuries are
  severeresulting in fractures, internal injuries,
  concussions, dislocations, and amputations.   
• About 75 of nonfatal injuries related to
  playground equipment occur on public playgrounds.
  Most occur at schools and daycare centers.
• Girls sustain injuries (55) slightly more often
  than boys (45).  

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Playground Safety (cont.)

• Children ages 5 to 9 have higher rates of
  emergency department visits for playground
  injuries than any other age group. Most of these
  injuries occur at school.
• On public playgrounds, more injuries occur on
  climbers than on any other equipment. 
• On home playgrounds, swings are responsible for
  most injuries. 

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Preventing Playground Injuries

• What you can do
• Parents/Adults
• Ensure that there is proper supervision of
  children during play time and before and after
  school.
• Direct children to playground equipment suitable
  to their age.
• Children/youth
• Avoid playing in playgrounds with trash, rusty
  play equipment, or a hard surface.
• Wear helmets, wrist, knee and elbow pads when
  biking, skateboarding, roller blading and in
  other sports requiring protection.

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Fireworks Injuries

• About 45 of persons injured from fireworks are
  children ages 14 years and younger.
• Males represent 72 of all injuries.
• Children ages 5 to 9 years have the highest
  injury rate for fireworks-related injuries.
• Persons who are actively participating in
  fireworks-related activities are more frequently
  injured, and sustain more severe injuries, than
  bystanders.

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Preventing Fireworks Injuries

• The safest way to prevent fireworks-related
  injuries is to leave fireworks displays to
  trained professionals.
• If fireworks are legal where you live and you
  decide to set fireworks off on your own, be sure
  to follow these important safety tips
• Never allow children to play with or ignite
  fireworks.
• Read and follow all warnings and instructions.
• Be sure other people are out of range before
  lighting fireworks.
• Only light fireworks on a smooth, flat surface
  away from the house, dry leaves, and flammable
  materials.
• Never try to relight fireworks that have not
  fully functioned.
• Keep a bucket of water in case of a malfunction
  or fire.

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Suicide

• The overall rate of suicide among youth has
  declined slowly since 1992. However, suicide is
  the third leading cause of death among young
  people ages 15 to 24.
• Adolescents and young adults often experience
  stress, confusion, and depression from situations
  occurring in their families, schools, and
  communities. Such feelings can overwhelm young
  people and lead them to consider suicide as a
  solution.
• Few schools and communities have suicide
  prevention plans that include screening,
  referral, and crisis intervention programs for
  youth.

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Preventing Suicide

• The first step in preventing suicide is to
  identify and understand the risk factors.
• A risk factor is anything that increases the
  likelihood that persons will harm themselves.
  However, risk factors are not necessarily causes.
  

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Preventing Suicide

• Research has identified the following risk
  factors for suicide
• Previous suicide attempt(s)
• History of mental disorders, particularly
  depression
• History of alcohol and substance abuse
• Family history of suicide
• Family history of child maltreatment
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Impulsive or aggressive tendencies
• Barriers to accessing mental health treatment
• Loss (relational, social, work, or financial)
• Physical illness
• Easy access to lethal methods
• Unwillingness to seek help because of the stigma
  attached to mental health and substance abuse
  disorders or suicidal thoughts
• Cultural and religious beliefsfor instance, the
  belief that suicide is a noble resolution of a
  personal dilemma
• Local epidemics of suicide
• Isolation, a feeling of being cut off from other
  people

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Preventing Suicide

• Scientific studies have also identified a number
  of protective factors to buffer some of the
  risks associated with suicide. These include
• Effective clinical care for mental, physical, and
  substance abuse disorders .
• Easy access to a variety of clinical
  interventions and support for help seeking .
• Family and community support .
• Support from ongoing medical and mental health
  care relationships .
• Skills in problem solving, conflict resolution,
  and nonviolent handling of disputes .
• Cultural and religious beliefs that discourage
  suicide and support self-preservation instincts .

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Youth Violence

• The human and economic toll of violence on young
  people, their families, and society is high.
• Homicide is the second leading cause of death for
  persons 15-24 years of age and has been the
  leading cause of death for African-Americans in
  this age group for over a decade.
• The economic cost associated with
  violence-related illness, disability, and
  premature death is estimated to be in the
  billions of dollars each year.

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Youth Violence

• More than 589,000 youth ages 15 to 24 were
  treated for nonfatal, assault-related injuries in
  U.S. hospital emergency departments in 2002. That
  is 111 nonfatal injuries for every
  violence-related death.
• Although nonfatal acts of violence are relatively
  common on school property, most acts of fatal and
  violent crime occur outside of school. CDCs
  School-Associated Violent Deaths Study found that
  fewer than 1 of all violent deaths among
  school-age children occur in schools.

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Youth Violence Prevention

• What you can do
• Parents/Adults
• Develop your own skills for resolving conflict in
  nonviolent ways.
• Know what is going on with your children. Watch
  for warning signs of bullying and aggressive
  behaviors.
• Follow up on suspected bullying incidents.
• Talk to your children and seek help from other
  adults including friends, family, your faith
  community, or counselors.
• Learn and take time to understand the warning
  signs of suicide and depression.

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Youth Violence Prevention

• What you can do
• Children/youth
• Learn alternatives to violence, such as new ways
  to deal with your anger, to fight fair, and
  communicate your feelings - you can make a
  change.
• If you are being bullied or threatened, seek
  adult help.
• If you see a friend in trouble, take a second to
  talk or seek help from a trusted adult.
• Be on the lookout for friends that may be in
  violent situations or relationships.
• If you feel hopeless, depressed, or have thoughts
  of killing yourself, seek adult help immediately.

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• Question and Answer Session

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• The National Youth Violence Prevention Resource
  Center is a central resource of health and safety
  information from the CDC and other federal
  partners.

• The National Youth Violence Prevention Resource
  Center provides
• Tips
• Fact sheets
• Best practices
• Research
• Publications
• Resources
• Programs
• Contacts and Contact Information
• Fax Service
• Toll-Free Hotline

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How to Reach the Resource Center

• www.safeyouth.org Web
• 1-866-SAFEYOUTH Toll-Free
• (1-866-723-3968)
• 1-866-620-4160 TTY
• NYVPRC_at_safeyouth.org E-mail
• 301-562-1001 FAX

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• Archive www.safeyouth.org, Multimedia Section
• Evaluation in the next 60 minutes only
• Thanks for participating!

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