New CDC Report Finds Motor Vehicles and Falls are Causes of Most Child and Teen Injuries and Deaths in the United States

An estimated 55 million children and teens from birth to age 19 were treated in emergency departments for unintentional injuries from 2001 to 2006, according to a new report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The report also notes that between 2000 and 2005, unintentional injuries resulted in 73,052 deaths among children and teens. Falls caused most non-fatal injuries (about 2.8 million each year), while most deaths were transportation-related (about 8,000 deaths each year involved a motor vehicle occupant, pedestrian or pedal cyclist).

According to the report, every year, an estimated 9.2 million children visited emergency departments for unintentional injuries. Falls were associated with over half of the nonfatal injuries involving children less than one year, while transportation-related injuries and deaths were highest among children 15 to 19 years of age. Overall, males were almost twice as likely to die as a result of unintentional injuries than females.

To help parents and other adults prevent child injuries, CDC is also launching the "Protect the Ones You Love" initiative. More about this initiative can be found at www.cdc.gov/safechild.

"Injury risks change as our children grow and we want them to be appropriately protected as they develop," said Dr. Ileana Arias, Director of CDC's Injury Center. "We encourage parents to be vigilant and to understand that there are proven ways to help reduce injuries at each life stage."

Other notable findings in the CDC report include:

-- The highest fatality rates were among occupants of motor vehicles;
-- Drowning was the leading cause of unintentional injury death for
children ages one to four. For those ages 5 to 19, most injury deaths
were due to being an occupant in a motor vehicle crash; and
-- Children ages one to four also had the highest nonfatal injury rates
due to poisoning and falls.

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Former Ft. Stewart Soldier Receives 70 Months Imprisonment for Faking Wife's Death and Collecting Insurance Proceeds

Edmund A. Booth, Jr., United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced that Ingerberth Baird, age 38, was sentenced on October 14, 2008, in U.S. District Court in Savannah to 70 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge B. Avant Edenfield.

Booth commented that, in imposing sentence, Judge Edenfield made an upward variance from the advisory guidelines range of 44 to 51 months, finding that Baird committed perjury when he testified on his own behalf at trial and noting that Baird remained totally unrepentant of his criminal actions. Baird had been convicted by a jury on January 29, 2008, on one count of conspiracy, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, one count of making false claims against the United States, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 287, and one count of mail fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341.

Baird had been extradited from Trinidad to face the charges in this case in June 2007. Booth noted that Baird will be transferred to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation to his home country of Trinidad after he completes serving his sentence.

The convictions rested upon the evidence at trial which established the following :Ingerberth Baird and his wife, Nicolette, lived in Hinesville, Georgia, in 2002. Ingerberth Baird was an enlisted officer in the U.S. Army, posted at Ft. Stewart. Nicolette Baird was an elementary school teacher at Joseph Martin Elementary School in Hinesville. In September 2002, Nicolette Baird requested time off to travel to Trinidad, where she had been born, to attend a family funeral. Several days later, a person identifying himself as Nicolette's husband called the principal of Joseph Martin Elementary to report that Nicolette had died in an automobile accident in Trinidad. Ingerberth Baird sought leave from his duties with the United States Army and traveled to Trinidad shortly after Nicolette's reported death, spending eleven days there before returning to the United States. The evidence further showed that in October and November, 2002, Ingerberth Baird applied for benefits under life insurance policies covering Nicolette through the U.S. Army (under the Family Servicemembers Group Life Insurance program, or "FSGLI") and the Liberty County, Georgia school system.

In connection with those claims, he presented a handwritten death certificate and handwritten police report purportedly describing Nicolette's death in Trinidad. Ingerberth Baird received over $100,000 from the U.S. Army FSGLI policy on Nicolette. The benefit was paid in the form of a checking account funded with the entire benefit amount, and a checkbook drawn on that account was mailed to Ingerberth Baird at his home. Over the course of October and November, 2002, Ingerberth Baird wrote numerous checks that totally depleted the account. In December 2002, Ingerberth Baird left the United States for Trinidad.

Shortly thereafter, it was determined that the death claim was false in that the handwritten death certificate was counterfeit and that no registrar of deaths with the name listed on the death certificate actually existed. In April 2003, agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation located Ingerberth Baird and Nicolette Baird, alive, living together in Cunupia, Trinidad. At that time, Ingerberth Baird admitted to the FBI agents that he knew on his first trip to Trinidad in September 2002, right after his wife's reported death, that no accident had occurred and that his wife was alive.

Booth praised the efforts of Special Agents Joseph Swiatek and Freddie Watkins of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorneys R. Brian Tanner and Brian F. McEvoy.

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CDC Media Analysis Examines Car Surfing

Injuries and Deaths Reported at Wide Range of Speeds

Teens are getting injured or killed by riding on the outside of a moving vehicle - an activity known as car surfing, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) review of newspaper articles released today in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The report also noted that car surfing injuries and deaths were reported at a wide range of vehicle speeds, from as low as 5 mph up to 80 mph.

CDC researchers examined 18 years of news reports from January 1990 to August 2008 using a newspaper article database. The researchers found 99 reported incidents of car surfing, 58 percent of which were fatal.

"While car surfing may be appealing to teens and others, our recommendation is simple - don't do it! Even a vehicle moving at a slow speed can be deadly," said John Halpin, M.D., the study's lead author.

"Parents should talk to their teens about the dangers of car surfing, especially if they feel that 'car surfing' has gained attention and popularity in their community," Halpin said.

Researchers excluded cases of injury related to activities that resemble car surfing, such as ghost riding, an activity that involves a driver exiting, and dancing next to a moving vehicle. They also noted that newspapers may vary in terms of the amount of attention they devote to these stories, or may not report them at all.

-- In the news stories reviewed, the average age of those injured or
killed was 17.6, with males accounting for 70 percent of the victims.
-- The largest number of car surfing injuries and deaths reported in U.S.
newspapers occurred in August.
-- Most (74 percent) of the news stories involved incidents in the
Midwest and the South.
-- Three out of four of the news stories reported car surfing deaths were
caused by a bump or blow to the head.
-- The news stories also suggest that car surfing may be both seasonal
and regional in nature.

The media analysis also found that in 29 percent of incidents, a sudden movement or maneuver was mentioned, such as an abrupt turn or sudden braking, which caused the person car surfing to fall off the vehicle. These types of falls can result in serious injuries or death, even at slow speeds.

National Teen Safe Driving Week is Oct. 19 - 25 and information from CDC is at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/spotlite/teendrivers.htm, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/, and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia at http://stokes.chop.edu/programs/injury/our_research/ydri.php.

For a complete copy of the MMWR report, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr. For more information about CDC's work in injury and violence prevention, please link to: http://www.cdc.gov/injury.

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Data Shows Unstable TVs, Furniture and Appliances Pose Deadly Danger to Children

Found in various rooms of the home, large furniture such as TVs, chests, armoires, and appliances are staples in our homes. But these items can tip over and crush children, causing injury or death. Last year, CPSC identified this issue as one of the "top five hidden home hazards." A new data report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) staff shows at least 180 tip-over related deaths between 2000 and 2006, 80 percent involving children younger than 10. The report also indicates that between 2005 and 2006 there were at least 40 reports of television or television and furniture related tip-over deaths.

These deaths and injuries frequently occur when children climb onto, fall against or pull themselves up on television stands, shelves, bookcases, dressers, desks, chests and stove oven doors. Televisions placed on top of furniture can tip over and cause a child to suffer traumatic and sometimes fatal injuries.

"Tip-over related deaths continue to be a problem. These tragedies can be prevented by taking precautions," said Acting Chairman Nancy Nord.

To help prevent tip-over hazards, CPSC recommends the following safety tips below:

Verify that furniture is stable on its own. For added security, anchor all entertainment units, TV stands, bookcases, shelving and bureaus to the wall or floor using appropriate hardware, such as brackets, screws, or toggles.

Place televisions on sturdy furniture appropriate for the size of the TV or on a low-rise base.

Push the TV as far back as possible from the front of its stand.

Place electrical cords out of a child's reach, and teach children not to play with the cords.

Remove items from the top of the TV and furniture that might tempt kids to climb, such as toys and remote controls.

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100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc. Mourns Death of Chairman and President Terrell L. Slayton, Jr.

PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc. regretfully announces the death of Chairman and President Terrell L. Slayton, Jr. He passed away unexpectedly on September 27, 2008, after becoming ill that morning. He was an extremely dedicated member of the 100 Black Men of Atlanta and worked faithfully to support the programs of Project Success, a tuition assistance and mentoring program started by the organization in 1987. Throughout last week, Mr. Slayton spoke on behalf of the organization at events associated with the Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic, a major funding source for Project Success.

"We are deeply saddened by Terrell's death," said Milton Jones, President Elect, 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc. and Georgia Market President, Bank of America. "Anyone who ever worked with Terrell Slayton can attest to his inexhaustible passion for a mission and a cause. I benefited greatly from the impact of his energy and passion and he inspired all of us to work harder as he demonstrated every day how committed he was to the work of this organization and to the youth connected with Project Success and BEST Academy."

"This is indeed a great loss to me personally, to the 100 family and to the citizens of Atlanta," stated John Grant, CEO, 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc. "Through his community spirit and leadership roles in several civic organizations, he has made a lasting impact on the lives of many. His leadership was truly by example and as an organization we are going to do what Terrell would have wanted. We will move forward and continue to serve and execute with excellence."

Mr. Slayton was born in Troy, AL in 1947. He joined the 100 Black Men of Atlanta in 1987 and was voted President Elect in April of 2006. He assumed the role of Chairman and President this past April and served with excellence in that capacity until his passing on Saturday. As a member of numerous committees and sub committees, Mr. Slayton contributed to countless initiatives over the past twenty years, one of which included being the architect of the organization's current strategic plan, developed with the Carl Vincent Institute of the University of Georgia.

Serving in the capacity of President Elect, Mr. Slayton played an integral part in the leadership team's many accomplishments over the past two years that included winning the 100 Black Men Chapter of the Year Award, the Mutual of America Life Insurance Company's Community Partner Award and the FIRST Robotics Program's Connect Award, expanding BEST Academy to include seventh graders and the organization moved into its permanent headquarters on Peachtree Street.

"The passing of Terrell Slayton came as a shock to me and to the members of our international organization," stated Albert E. Dotson, Jr., Esq., Chairman, 100 Black Men of America, Inc. "Although saddened, we are proud of the leadership standard he set for both members and mentees. It was a privilege to know him and I remain proud of the work of the Atlanta chapter and Terrell's role as a Board Member with 100 Black Men of America, Inc."

"Mr. Slayton's leadership and commitment to our youth has inspired many," said John Hammond, President and CEO, 100 Black Men of America, Inc. "He will be greatly missed."

Mr. Slayton's circle of influence stretches across the state of Georgia and this nation. The family is deeply appreciative of the many friends, colleagues and associates who have already called to pay their respects. The funeral will be held at King's Chapel on the campus of Morehouse College, located at 830 Westview Drive, S.W. Atlanta, GA 30314. A public viewing will be held from 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. and funeral services will take place from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to Project Success in the name of Terrell L. Slayton, Jr. Donations can be sent to: Project Success c/o 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc., 241 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30303.

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New Report Estimates More than 2 million Cases of Tobacco-related Cancers Diagnosed in the United States During 1999-2004

About 2.4 million cases of tobacco-related cancers were diagnosed in the United States from 1999 to 2004, with lung and bronchial cancer accounting for almost half of these diagnoses, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the most comprehensive assessment to date, the study marks the first time CDC has reported on all tobacco-related cancers for more than 90 percent of the population.

“The data in this report provides additional, strong evidence of the serious harm related to tobacco,” said Sherri Stewart, Ph.D., in CDC′s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, who is lead author of the study. “We′ve long known tobacco was associated with lung and laryngeal cancer, but this study gives us even greater clarity. The rates for these two cancers were highest in areas with the highest prevalence of tobacco use.”

The Surgeon General has found tobacco use causes these cancers: lung and bronchial, laryngeal, oral cavity and pharyngeal, esophageal, stomach, pancreatic, kidney and renal pelvis, urinary bladder, cervical and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML).

Though tobacco is a major cause for all the cancers presented in this report, not all cases of cancer studied could be linked directly to tobacco use. Some of these cancers have several important risk factors such as infections or genetic factors that can operate in concert with, or independently, of tobacco. In addition, information on tobacco use was not available in these databases. Therefore, some cases of cancer included in this report may not be attributable to tobacco use.
Key Findings:

Age-adjusted rates are presented in parentheses where appropriate and are per 100,000 persons.

* The incidence of tobacco-related cancers was higher among black and non-Hispanic populations, and among men, which reflect patterns of tobacco use.
* Lung, laryngeal, and cervical cancer incidence rates were highest in the South, where the highest prevalence of smoking exists. Kentucky had the highest rates of lung cancer among men and women (133.2 and 75.5, respectively), the third highest rate of laryngeal cancers among men (9.7) and the highest rate of laryngeal cancer among women (2.6). Kentucky had the highest prevalence of current smoking (28.6 percent).
* States with the lowest smoking rates are in the West: Utah (10.4 percent), California (18.5 percent), and Montana (18.5 percent). Cancer incidence rates were consistently lowest in the West for all the cancers, with the exception of stomach cancer.
* In 2004, lung and bronchial cancer incidence rates were highest among men in the South (97.9) and lowest in the West (66.0); Among women, rates were similar in the South, Midwest, and Northeast regions (55.3–56.4) and were lowest in the West (48.1)
* In 2004, laryngeal cancer incidence rates were highest among men in the South (8.4) region of the United States and lowest in the West (4.8). Among women, rates were similar in the South, Midwest, and Northeast (1.6–1.7) and were lowest in the West (1.1).
* The high incidence rates of both lung and laryngeal cancer in the South are consistent with smoking patterns and reflect the strong association of these cancers with tobacco use.

The report also noted other cancers associated with tobacco use (pancreas, urinary bladder, esophagus, kidney, stomach, cervix, and AML) accounted for more than 1 million cases diagnosed.

“Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States and the most prominent cause of cancer,” said Matthew McKenna, M.D., M.P.H., director, CDC′s Office on Smoking and Health. “The tobacco-use epidemic causes a third of the cancers in America. If proven strategies were fully implemented to decrease tobacco use, much of the suffering and death that cancer inflicts on families and communities could be prevented.”

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Alzheimer's Passes Diabetes As Sixth Leading Cause Of Death In U.S.

(SPM Wire) Alzheimer's disease is now the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics.

The CDC estimates that 72,914 Americans died of Alzheimer's disease in 2006. With an unprecedented historic population shift of 78 million aging baby boomers in the country and this disease poised to strike 10 million boomers -- it is clear this escalating epidemic must be addressed now.

Today, as many as 5.2 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease. The Alzheimer's Association's "2008 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures" report revealed one out of eight baby boomers will develop this disease that currently has no effective disease-modifying treatments to halt or delay its progression.

Experts predict by 2010, there will be almost a half million new cases of Alzheimer's disease each year; and by 2050, there will be almost a million new cases each year.

"The CDC's announcement that Alzheimer's disease jumped from the seventh to the sixth leading cause of death should serve as a wake-up call to the nation," said William Thies, PhD, vice president of Medical and Scientific Relations at the Alzheimer's Association. "The fact that there are no effective treatments for Alzheimer's has allowed the disease to pass diabetes. It is vitally important that we increase Alzheimer's research funding to slow or stop the progression of this devastating disease."

Researchers are closing the gap in developing accurate ways to diagnose and treat Alzheimer's.

Although there are several promising drugs currently in Phase III clinical trials, many feel that insufficient research funds are committed to research focused on Alzheimer's disease treatment and prevention. This situation is further compounded by the fact that for the past five years the NIH budget has been essentially flat, stresses the Alzheimer's Association, which continues to push for the acceleration of research.

The CDC also reported that while deaths from Alzheimer's disease were on the rise, other chronic conditions were on the decline. Between 2005 and 2006, the largest decline in age-adjusted death rates occurred for influenza/pneumonia (12.8 percent), and also included chronic lower respiratory diseases (6.5 percent), stroke (6.4 percent), heart disease (5.5 percent) diabetes (5.3 percent), hypertension (5 percent), chronic liver disease (3.3 percent) and cancer (1.6 percent).

The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. For more information, visit www.alz.org.