In 2016, four children in the United States tragically lost their lives due to lightning strikes. In stark contrast, gun violence resulted in the deaths of 637 children under the age of 11. During the decade spanning from 2002 to 2011, over 9,000 American children under the age of 12 perished in car accidents. Additionally, 425 kids aged 10 to 14 took their own lives in 2014, and unintentional injuries accounted for the deaths of 2,696 children under 14. Homicides claimed 643 young lives, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately ten individuals die from accidental drownings daily, with two of them being children aged 14 or younger.
In 2016, there were no fatalities among American children attributed to terrorism. The only prior incident was the death of one child in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Before that, there had been no child fatalities linked to terrorism in the U.S. since 2001, when eight children were lost on September 11. Even the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 resulted in the tragic loss of 19 children.
In a time when discussions about the admission of Syrian refugees dominate public discourse, it is crucial to keep these statistics in perspective. While children are suffering and dying in conflict zones like Aleppo, we remain preoccupied with the perceived threats to our own children here at home. The refugee vetting process is highly rigorous, involving nine steps with multiple opportunities for re-evaluation before a refugee is allowed to enter the United States. Once here, they must secure a green card, which initiates another series of checks. Only about 1% of refugees worldwide qualify for admission into the U.S., making the likelihood of a terrorist slipping through this extensive process far less than the risk of a child drowning or falling victim to homicide.
Our focus often gravitates toward extraordinary risks rather than commonplace dangers. Media outlets rarely highlight the alarmingly high incidence of child drownings or fatalities from car accidents. Instead, they sensationalize rare events like shark attacks and mass shootings, which capture public attention. Government public service announcements typically address mundane but critical safety measures, such as ensuring children wear seatbelts and receive necessary vaccinations.
Risk perception, as examined in The Political Science of Risk Perception, indicates that individuals often interpret risk through a lens shaped by their beliefs and experiences, rather than through objective data. As a result, fears surrounding Syrian refugees are amplified by sensational media portrayals and political rhetoric. This narrative leads parents to perceive them as a greater threat than the hazards present in their own households, such as unsecured swimming pools or firearms.
While we have welcomed thousands of refugees from Syria in recent years, the death toll of American children at their hands remains at zero. Instead, parents should be concerned about preventable risks in their own environments, like the potential dangers of an unlocked gun, improperly installed car seats, or issues related to pregnancy health. The CDC offers excellent resources on pregnancy and can provide insights into ensuring a safe home environment.
In summary, the real threats to our children are often lurking closer to home, and it is critical for parents to prioritize attention on these everyday dangers rather than unfounded fears about terrorism.
Keyphrase: home safety for children
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