In terms of homicides, 19% of the deaths we looked at fell into this category. The vast majority of these cases involved gun violence, with young black men disproportionately affected.

Suicide remains another devastating cause of death. Nine percent of the deaths analyzed were suicides, with shootings being the most common method. We know that suicide is preventable and our efforts must focus on mental health support and awareness, especially for teenagers.

One of the most important areas of focus for the committee this year was infant sleep deaths. These deaths represent a significant portion of both accidental and undetermined deaths. Unsafe sleeping environments – be it co-sleeping, poor bedding or the absence of a safe sleeping surface – have contributed to far too many losses. We need to do more to educate caregivers about safe sleep practices and provide resources to ensure every child has a safe place to rest.

We also looked at 81 motor vehicle fatalities, with two major trends. First, too many young children involved in fatal accidents were unrestrained. Second, our teenage drivers continue to face significant risks, particularly related to distracted driving, speeding and not wearing seat belts. This is an area where we need to improve public education and reinforce the importance of safety measures such as seat belt use and safe driving practices.

So where do we go from here? What can we do to stop these preventable deaths? Our committee has some key recommendations.

First, we need to support voluntary, evidence-based home visiting programs to educate new parents about safe sleep and child safety.

Second, we need to strengthen our campaigns on motor vehicle safety, substance abuse prevention and mental health awareness. Initiatives like the “Buckle Up, Buttercup” campaign and fentanyl awareness efforts are crucial to saving lives.

Finally, we need to improve collaboration and data sharing between agencies, particularly in areas such as juvenile justice, education and health services, to ensure we have the most accurate picture of the challenges our children face.