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Local child‑fatality review finds 19 deaths in 2024; county prioritizes prenatal care and suicide prevention
Summary
Burke County’s child‑fatality review team reported 19 child deaths from 2024, including homicides and suicides; commissioners and health staff said the team will emphasize prenatal‑care education and suicide awareness in the coming year.
Dr. Ashley Jarrett, interim health director, presented the local Child Fatality Prevention Team’s 2025 annual report to the commissioners on June 1, reviewing fatalities from 2024 and recommending priorities to prevent future deaths.
Dr. Jarrett said the team reviewed 19 child fatalities from 2024: seven birth‑related deaths, four accidents, two illnesses, one sudden infant death syndrome case, two homicides, two suicides and one case with unknown cause. "This is really important to us who are on the team to get this report out every year," Dr. Jarrett said. She emphasized the work is difficult but necessary and described the team’s charge to identify system gaps and recommend preventive actions.
Commissioner Brian Barrier thanked the team and highlighted recommended priorities: expand education on prenatal care and genetic testing, and increase suicide‑awareness efforts and community education about warning signs. He also noted local efforts to distribute gun safes and other practical safety measures aimed at preventing tragedies.
Both Dr. Jarrett and commissioners said the team will continue community outreach and collaboration with schools, health care providers and social services to implement the recommendations.
The board placed the report on the consent agenda for next meeting follow‑up and accepted the summary as presented.
