How can RFK Jr ‘Make America healthy again’? He is ignoring the two biggest killers of American children | Devi Sridhar

M.Akecarica is healthy again. a report In detail, the United States’ health challenge. About 90 % of information technology determines high obesity rates, mental health issues and chronic diseases, covers 10 % of the suspicion of vaccines, and 0 % are looking at solutions or any discussions on regular social and economic issues that drive many health problems for the United States.

But what surprised me more was a remarkable neglect of the largest two American children. American children are not only unhealthy. They are More like death In the first 19 years of life due to weapons – murders and suicide crimes – or in a traffic accident on the road in similar countries. How can an entire report be written without mentioning these factors, and the unique extent of the United States in the burden of disability and death that causes it?

Take guns. In 2020, arms injuries surpassed car accidents as a major cause of death in the United States for children and adolescents. from 2019 to 2021There was a 23 % increase in arms deaths between Americans of all ages, while arms deaths between children and adolescents increased by 50 % in the same period. For every 100,000 people, the United States was approximately 2019 100 times the number of murders such as Britain. Even countries like Canada, which ranks the first ten in the world in civil weapons ownership, has about Seven times less than rifle murders From the United States and about Half the number of suicides that involve guns – Both of them are an amendment to the population. Extreme values ​​include the most positive end Japan And South Korea, which is close to the deaths associated with weapons every year. Over the four years between 2020 and 2024, the average of the United States has reached almost Two group shooting per day. They often happen so that the media often does not reach them anymore. It is not news. It is just a daily life.

Unlike countries Like Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Serbia and Colombia – to choose a few examples – it has been legislation to organize firearms, especially pistols, in Gridlock. The result is a growing feeling of despair, satisfaction, and even acceptance with the death of children in the shooting after the shooting. Obtaining school shooting is one of the most likely ways for a child to die in the United States, however firearms have not been mentioned at all in the “Make America Healtha again”.

The second main cause of American deaths is road traffic accidents. in 202143,000 people died in the United States in road accidents, compared to less than 3,000 people in Japan. The population rate was modified, and the death rate in the United States was 12.7 per 100,000 people compared to 2.24 Japan. This difference is not random: The size of the car plays a large part. The best -selling vehicle weighs in Japan, a group of compact known as the Kei, about 1100 kg and a length of 3.3 meters. This is compared to the United States, with the length of the most popular car (Beek August) 2900 kg and a length of 5.8 meters. This affects road safety. Study Safety Research Magazine I found that children are more likely to kill eight times in a collision with SUVs more than they are in a car accident with a record car. This is not only about the size and weight of these cars but also the amount of restrictions, especially for children who may be near the car.

Determine the main causes of the child’s disability and death is one step. The death of traffic and the road in the United States is very common, and it seems sometimes faded in the background. But the data shows the difference between the United States and other countries is blatant, and it is part of the role of public health agencies such as RFK JR’s to make these issues more clear. Of course, trying to find solutions, especially those that may be seen that violates individual freedoms to have a weapon or a vehicle they want, is much more difficult. There are political steps that can be taken, As shown in Japan, Britain and other countries Which gave priority to health and luxury.

If the United States government really wants to “make America healthy again”, it must first recognize the brutal horses that armed violence and road accidents, especially children. Without facing these facts face-to-face-and without a change in regular policy-no more vision can succeed for us. After all, you can only be healthy if you are alive.

• Professor Devy Sarridhar is the head of global public health at Edinburgh University, and the author of the book ” How do you not die (very soon)

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