MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report
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MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. · May 1998
Community needs assessment and morbidity surveillance following an ice storm--Maine, January 1998.
On January 7,1998, an ice storm struck the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. In Maine, 3 consecutive days of rain combined with ground temperatures consistently below freezing resulted in heavy accumulations of ice on trees and electric power lines. ⋯ On January 16, an estimated 50,000 households, primarily in the interior portion of the state, remained without power. This report summarizes a community needs assessment and a study of emergency department (ED) visits conducted during the aftermath of this storm.
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MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. · Apr 1998
Suicide prevention evaluation in a Western Athabaskan American Indian Tribe--New Mexico, 1988-1997.
Since 1979, suicide and homicide have alternated as the second and third leading causes of death among young American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs). From 1979 through 1992, suicide rates for AI/ANs in all age groups were approximately 1.5 times the rates for the overall U. S. population. ⋯ Although knowledge about suicide among AI/ANs has increased, information about the efficacy of suicide prevention and intervention programs in general, and specifically in AI/AN communities, is scarce. In January 1990, following concern raised by tribal officials in 1988 about suicide among youth, a Western Athabaskan tribe in rural New Mexico implemented a suicide prevention and intervention program that targeted tribal members aged 15-19 years. This report summarizes the results of the program through 1997 and indicates that rates of suicide and attempted suicide among this target population decreased substantially after the program was implemented.
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MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. · Apr 1998
Tobacco use among high school students--United States, 1997.
Tobacco use is the single leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Approximately 80% of tobacco use occurs for the first time among youth aged <18 years, and the prevalence of cigarette smoking among adolescents increased during the early 1990s. ⋯ This report summarizes the results of the analysis, which indicate that the prevalence of current cigarette smoking among U. S. high school students increased from 27.5% in 1991 to 36.4% in 1997 and that, in 1997, 42.7% of students used cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, or cigars during the 30 days preceding the survey.
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MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. · Dec 1997
Case ReportsToy-related injuries among children and teenagers--United States, 1996.
Each year, approximately two billion toys and games are sold in the United States. Although most toys are safe when risks are measured against the frequency of their use, children are at risk for some toy-related injuries and deaths. ⋯ Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for 1996. This report summarizes this analysis and underscores the importance of parental participation in the selection and use of toys.
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MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. · Dec 1997
Case ReportsHypothermia-related deaths -- Virginia, November 1996-April 1997.
Hypothermia is defined as a central or core body temperature of < or =95 F (< or =35 C) and is a medical emergency. Persons with hypothermia are at high risk for death. ⋯ For example, during November 1996-April 1997, the Chief Medical Examiner's Office in Virginia identified 20 deaths caused by hypothermia; of these, 11 (55%) were among men and decedents ranged in age from 22 to 86 years (mean: 63 years). This report describes selected cases of hypothermia-related deaths in Virginia during November 1996-April 1997 and summarizes hypothermia-related deaths in the United States during 1979-1994.