Our research shows some compelling reasons why Safe Kids is vital to
safety of children in our community. Statistics and data on a state level, tells
us some important facts. Preventable injuries are the #1 killer of children.
But upon closer inspection of the state statistics, seven of the eight counties
in the Safe Kids North Central Florida region are above the state average
in injury mortality rates. Six of our counties are above the state average
in injury hospitalization rates. The number one counties (Dixie and Union) in
the state for deaths and hospitalizations are located in our service area. Our
job in North Central Florida is large…and very important! We have to make
a difference quickly and effectively.

In order to be more effective quickly, Safe Kids North Central Florida not
only follows data at a national and state level, but we also track data from
Shands Trauma, local hospitals and emergency departments and our own
statistics from car seat checks. This data will give Safe Kids an in-depth
look into our injuries for the eight counties we serve. This will allow us
to be on the cutting edge in providing injury prevention
for the top five injury categories. The top five injury
categories we are seeing at a state level, might be
different from what we are seeing at a county level.

Here is a great example of looking at our local statistics and
data and the difference this can make. ATV's (4-wheeler's)
do not have an individual code for tracking injury or fatalities
at the state level. By looking at the national and state data,
it appears that ATV's are not a top five category. But when
looking at the data from Shands Trauma, we know that
ATV injuries/fatalities are in the top five category of
injury/fatalities. ATV's will become a national and state
injury platform…but Safe Kids North Central Florida
has already been educating on this category for several
years. We do make a difference!

The top 3 Leading Causes of
Death Caused by Injury
(according to stats from DOH):

• Suffocation (leading cause of death
  for ages 0–1 years)
• Drowning (leading cause of death
  for ages 1-4 years)
• Motor vehicle traffic (leading cause
  of death for ages 5-14 years)

Other areas of death by injury:

• ATV's (all terrain vehicles or 4-wheelers)
• Poisoning
• Pedestrian
• Firearm
• Fire

Safe Kids Facts about
Motor Vehicle Traffic:

Motor vehicle (MV) traffic crashes are the
leading cause of injury death in Florida.

These crashes can cause injuries to passengers
and drivers of vehicles, cyclist,
pedestrians and others.

In 2007, 3118 Florida residents were
fatally injured in MV traffic crashes
and another 16,546 were hospitalized
for non-fatal injuries.