Preventing childhood accidents

June 24, 2009 Every minute and a half, an infant is seen in an emergency room. More than 12,000 children die from accidents in the United States every year -- more than the number of kids who die from all diseases combined.

Ten-year-old Austin Johnson is lucky to be alive.

On Christmas Day, a trip with his mom to his great-grandparents' house was cut short.

The Johnsons' car was crushed. "My leg was just pounding, and it felt like it was about to explode," said Austin Johnson.

He survived, but too often, that's not the case. preventable accidents account for 40-percent of child deaths in the U.S.

"When we do see these accidents occurring, they're usually in clusters related through summer travel, holiday travel," said Preeti Jois-Bilowich, MD, emergency physician.

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