Last updated on September 17, 2021Special Reports
- Child Death Review Panel Report of Aboriginal Youths – On April 18, 2008 and July 4, 2008, a Child Death Review Panel was convened in Burnaby, B.C. to examine the circumstances related to the deaths of six Aboriginal youths. These youths died between 2004-2005 in the Northern, Interior and Vancouver Island regions. There were three females and three males between the ages of 13 and 18 years old. Circumstances of death included a motor vehicle crash, suicide, exposure, and poisoning; alcohol was a factor in all six deaths. (July 2009)
- Safe and Sound: A Five Year Retrospective on Sudden Infant Death in Sleep-related Circumstances – This report examines the lives and deaths of 113 B.C. infants who died suddenly and unexpectedly in their sleep between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2007. It describes the trends and patterns found in order to make meaningful recommendations that improve outcomes for all infants and result in continued and strengthened collaboration across all child-serving jurisdictions. (November 2009)
- Looking for Something to Look Forward To – A Five-Year Retrospective Review of Child and Youth Suicide in B.C. – Jan. 1, 2003 to Dec. 31, 2007 – Suicide is the second most common cause of death for children and youth aged 12 to 18, after motor vehicle crashes. Past reviews of child and youth suicide conducted by the Child Death Review Unit have found that the majority of these deaths are preventable. Both the prevalence and the high level of preventability suggested the need for a special report on child and youth suicide. Please send us your feedback on this report.
- Summary Report – Looking for Something to Look Forward To – Panel Makes Recommendations on Child Suicide Prevention news release and backgrounder. (December 2, 2008)
- Report on Drowning – The CDRU reviewed 33 cases of child drowning deaths from 2000 to 2006. Eighty-eight per cent, 29 of the 33, were preventable. The report examines contributory risk factors including risks associated with swimming pools, swimming ability of children, and hazardous water conditions like cold water and drop-offs. It also encourages parents, caregivers and youth to alter perceptions about the risks of children drowning. (July 2007)
- The "955 Transition Files" of the former Children's Commission – Summary of the review completed by the BC Coroners Service Child Death Review Unit of “955 child death cases” that were reported to exist as either files pending an investigation or as electronic files within the Children's Commission at the time that agency was disbanded in September 2002. (November 2006)
Annual Reports
- Child Mortality in British Columbia – 2010 Update – This report presents findings for the 324 children who died in British Columbia during 2010. This report consists primarily of descriptive data intended to characterize child mortality in British Columbia through demographics, causes and circumstances surrounding the death of these children.
- Child Mortality in British Columbia – 2009 Update – This report presents findings for the 287 children who died in British Columbia during 2009. This report consists primarily of descriptive data intended to characterize child mortality in British Columbia through demographics, causes and circumstances surrounding the death of these children.
- 2009 Annual Report - Child Death Review Unit – This report reflects the activities the CDRU undertook throughout 2009, focusing on the completion of 262 child death case reviews, public reporting, and recommendation monitoring and support.
- Child Mortality in British Columbia – 2008 Update – This report presents findings for the 344 children who died in British Columbia during 2008. This report consists primarily of descriptive data intended to characterize child mortality in British Columbia through demographics, causes and circumstances surrounding the death of these children.
- 2008 Annual Report - Child Death Review Unit –This report provides a summary of the Child Death Review Unit’s work in 2008. It outlines what the CDRU is all about; who we are, what we do and why we do it. It also outlines the progress that has been made on the implementation of recommendations and highlights the upcoming work we will be doing over the next few years.
- 2007 Annual Report - Child Death Review Unit – The report looks at common risk factors among 395 deaths involving children and youth ages one day to 18-years-old that occurred between 1999 and 2007, and issues recommendations that aim to prevent future child deaths. The review determined 126 deaths were preventable and of those deaths, the cause most often cited as responsible for the loss of life were 58 transport related incidents.
- 2006 Annual Report - Child Death Review Unit – While motor vehicle incidents remain the main reason why B.C. children die accidentally, for the first time, suicide is now the second leading cause of preventable death, according to annual report data released by the Child Death Review Unit (CDRU) of the BC Coroners Service.
- 2005 Annual Report - Child Death Review Unit – First CDRU Annual Report chronicling its work from 2003 - 2005. It is the result of ongoing aggregate review of both descriptive and statistical information relating to children’s deaths, providing important insight into some of the causative and contributory factors that lead to deaths of infants and young people.
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