ABSTRACT
Fortunately, child death is now uncommon in the UK. However, this makes it all the more tragic for parents when it does happen. Table 2.1 lists the causes of death in childhood.
The most common cause overall is accidental injuries. The main cause of injury or death in the UK is a collision between a child who is walking or playing on the street and a motor vehicle. There is a marked social gradient in accidents in the UK, with deaths in social class 5 being much commoner than deaths in social class 1. This gradient is discussed further below.
