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Kansas Child Deaths Lowest On Record

A new report shows the number of child fatalities in Kansas in 2011 was the lowest on record. Those records date back to 1992, when the Child Death Review Board was established.

The annual report from the review board says 391 children died in Kansas in 2011. Of those deaths, 230 were due to natural causes. Almost two-thirds involved babies who died in their first month of life, most of those deaths were due to premature birth and congenital conditions.

Overall, the infant mortality rate—the number of babies who die before their first birthday—was down to 5.9 deaths for every 1,000 live births.

The lowest number on record of children dying in car crashes was also recorded in 2011. There were 78 deaths due to unintentional injury—33 of those in motor vehicle wrecks. Almost half of those killed were not properly using their seat belts. 

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