The most common causes of pediatric injury are^1,2,3:

• Motor vehicle accidents

  In children ages 5 to 19:

  • Injuries from motor vehicle accidents are the top cause of death from injury.
  • Every hour, almost 150 children visit emergency departments due to serious injuries from motor vehicle accidents.
• Suffocation (being unable to breathe)
  • Infants are most likely to suffocate while they sleep.
  • Toddlers are most at risk from suffocating by choking on food or other small objects.
• Drowning
  • Drowning is the most common cause of death from injury in children ages 1 to 4.
  • Three children die every day from drowning.
• Poisoning
  • Two children die every day from poisoning.
  • Each day, more than 300 children ages 0 to 19 in the United States go to emergency departments because of poisoning.
  • Common sources of poisoning include household chemicals, cleaners, and medicines.
• Burns
  • Two children die every day from being burned.
  • Each day, more than 300 children ages 0 to 19 arrive in emergency departments to be treated for burns.
  • Younger children are more likely to be burned by hot liquids or steam.
  • Older children are more likely to be burned from direct contact with fire.
• Falls
  • Falls are the most common cause of nonfatal injuries for children ages 0 to 19.
  • Each day, about 8,000 children visit emergency departments due to injuries from falls.