PA Law Looks for Trends in Child Deaths

A new law aimed at keeping kids alive is awaiting implementation. PA Act 87 goes into effect the first full week of January requiring the State Department of Health to review all child deaths in the state using a network of local multi-agency, multidisciplinary teams. Bill sponsor PA Senator Lisa Baker says most other states already have similar protocols in place and have had good success in finding trends that may have other wise gone unnoticed. On the local level that could be finding unsafe street corners that have caused several deaths over time that need new traffic controls. On a statewide level the system could pick up on a string of suicides or accidental deaths from a risky activity that teens are trying. Those deaths could be addressed through special programs. The work will be done in conjunction with the American Academy of Pediatricians.