The loss of a child is always tragic, and from 2007 to 2012 dozens of families in Broome County had to cope with that loss. As a result, the county assembled a group of health care professionals which examined 44 cases of child deaths to see how they occurred. Of the 44 deaths, most were deemed to be preventable. Over half of the cases involved children less than one year old, and seventeen came as a result of poor sleeping environments. The Broome County Public Health Office says it’s important to make sure a child’s crib meets the most up-to-date safety standards available, as families often reuse cribs for multiple children to save money. The review team will continue to research Broome County’s childhood fatality cases and will update the report each year.
