Child fatality review: Mohave and La Paz counties cite motor‑vehicle crashes, unsafe sleep and drowning among leading causes

Anna Scherzer, the county epidemiologist, told the board the child fatality review covers Mohave and La Paz counties and that 2023 yielded 29 child deaths in the two counties (23 in Mohave, six in La Paz). She cautioned that small counts make year‑to‑year changes difficult to interpret and therefore the team commonly examines five‑year aggregates to identify patterns.

Across a five‑year view, Scherzer said about one‑fifth of child deaths are associated with motor‑vehicle events (cars, ATVs, personal watercraft), roughly 10 percent with asphyxia events often tied to unsafe sleep or co‑sleeping, and about 8 percent with drowning. She cited historical state public‑health responses that grew out of fatality reviews, including the 1996 infant‑death checklist for first responders, the 1999 graduated driver’s license changes for teens and the 2012 expansion of booster seat requirements for certain ages and heights.

Schzer urged caution about small numbers but said the county continues to use reviews to inform prevention recommendations such as safe‑sleep outreach, child passenger‑safety education and drowning‑prevention programs. She added that the state‑level child fatality report provides broader context for the county’s work and that the local review helps shape prevention priorities in Mohave County and La Paz.

Ending: The board accepted the child fatality review for information; staff said they will continue local reviews and report preventive work plans in future meetings.