Recently, the state announced its child fatality figures for 2014. First off, child deaths are down 46 percent since 1991. Some of this can be attributed to the infant mortality reduction — nearly two-thirds of all children’s deaths are among infants under the age 1.
An area especially noted was the increase in suicides, which went up by 35 percent from 2013 to 2014. In much of the state, youths are taking drugs that prove much more potent than the normal street strength, which has had devastating results.
The local Child Fatality Review Team examines all deaths seeking any system errors that may have contributed to the fatality. For example, over the years the team has recommended stop light placement, improved access to prenatal care, prescription drug awareness, and discouraged leaving children unattended in cars.
Some areas that Robeson placed much higher in North Carolina than the total population would include:
— Motor vehicle deaths: Robeson trailed only Wake County for number of children that died in a motor vehicle accident in 2014. For the five-year period from 2010 to 2014, only Forsyth, Wake and Cumberland had more fatalities, all of which have far larger populations.
— Drowning: Over the past five years, only Wake, Mecklenburg and Cumberland had more children drown.
— Homicide: Robeson had the seventh highest total in the state.
We are failing as a community when these numbers are so much higher than our relative population. Having more vehicle deaths for children than Charlotte is unbelievable and is a firm indictment that, collectively, we must do better.
