Child Fatality Review 2023

NR_Child Fatality Review 2023 Report.docx

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March #, 2024

Most childhood injury deaths in New Mexico are preventable

Department of Health releases 2023 Child Fatality Review Report

SANTA FE—The New Mexico Department of Health ’s Office of Injury and Violence Prevention has released the New Mexico Child Fatality Review 2023 R eport , which shows that 80% of the child deaths that were reviewed in 2022 were preventable.

The report , compiled by panels of experts from across the state, shares information about child deaths due to injury or violence which were reviewed in 2022 . Of the 84 unique child fatalities analyzed in the report , the panels determined that 67 deaths could have been prevented.

The most common manner of child death was unintentional injury, accounting for 39 cases. This was followed by suicide with 16 cases , homicide with 12 cases and natural causes with 3 cases. In 14 cases , the cause of death could not be determined.

“In New Mexico, we've witnessed too many losses, from infants in unsafe sleeping conditions to children and youth in instances of suicide, motor accidents, and violence ,” said NMDOH Sec. Patrick Allen . “ Everyone has a role to play in keeping our children safe; by utilizing best practices for prevention, we can ensure the health and safety of our youngest community members.”

The leading causes of death in the cases that were determined to be unintentional were asphyxiation ( 46%), motor vehicle crashes (23%), poisoning (10%), falls (3%), drowning (3%), bodily force or weapon ( 3%) and other incidents (3%).

The report includes recommendations for i mproving the data used for the review as well as recommendations to prevent child deaths. The recommendations include:

Urging child-serving agencies and organizations to implement policies and make available resources to improve safe home environments for families, such as gun locks, baby gates, products to encourage safe infant sleep practices, and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Passing legislation that provides increased access to mental health professionals from other states via telehealth.

Proposing suicide prevention gatekeeper training for personnel of child-serving agencies and other organiza tio ns including the Children , Youth and Families Department and the Early Childhood Education and Care Department .

Visit the NMDOH’s Office of Injury and Violence Prevention to access the full report and other helpful resources.

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