The years of adolescence, and even those prior to it, are often ones of high emotional upheaval. Actions by youth that lead to death are perhaps more abhorred than in any other age group, due to the promise that young people universally represent. According to an analysis from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 55% of deaths in children ages 10-14, and approximately 75% of deaths in older teenagers and young adults, could have been prevented.
It is important to monitor these data to measure progress on prevention efforts. Hundreds of deaths can be prevented each year through improved implementation of prevention programs, both at the state and local levels. Communities must work together to ensure that these tragedies don't happen, no matter the cause.
This indicator measures the rates of three types of youth deaths in Walla Walla County: Unintentional, Suicide, and Homicide. Unintentional injuries include motor vehicle accidents, drowning, injuries sustained in fires, overdoses, firearm accidents, and falls. For this indicator, youth is defined as the age group of 0 - 24. Additional information, including the actual number of youth deaths by type, can be found in the “Download Data” section.