Deaths of Children Under 17 in Taitung: Disease and Accidental Injuries Are Main Causes

(Central News Agency reporter Lu Taicheng, Taitung County, 11th) According to statistics from the Taitung County Health Bureau, from the Republic of China year 108 (2019) to the present, there have been 89 deaths of children aged 0 to 17 in Taitung. Among these, 62 cases were natural deaths due to disease, and 27 cases were due to accidental injuries. The top three causes of accidental injuries were suffocation during sleep in newborns, drowning, and traffic accidents. The bureau calls on family members to pay attention.

The Taitung County Government Health Bureau today convened a working group meeting to review deaths of children aged 0 to 17, inviting the District Prosecutors Office, Police Bureau, Fire Bureau, Department of Education, Department of Social Affairs, Department of Indigenous Affairs, medical institutions, and experts and scholars in related fields. Through a cross-agency cooperation mechanism, the meeting reviewed child death cases, analyzed potential risk factors, and developed preventive strategies to protect children's life safety.

The Taitung County Health Bureau stated that from 2019 to the present, there have been a total of 89 deaths of children aged 0 to 17, of which 62 were natural deaths from disease and 27 were from accidental injuries. The top three accidental injuries were suffocation during sleep in newborns, drowning, and traffic accidents.

Health Bureau Director Sun Guoping stated that accidental injuries are one of the leading causes of death for children and adolescents. Among these, traffic accidents, drowning, falls, suffocation, and home accidents are often preventable. He urged parents to implement home safety checks, keep children away from dangerous places and bodies of water, and correctly use safety seats and seat belts when riding in vehicles.

Sun pointed out that attention should also be paid to infant sleep safety, following the principle of "back to sleep, same room different bed," and avoiding the use of soft items such as pillows, quilts, and stuffed toys to reduce the risk of suffocation and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Sun reminded parents that summer vacation is approaching. When playing in the water, they should choose legal and safe water areas and accompany their children at all times to jointly protect children's safety. (Editor: Zhang Yajing) 1150611