A little perspective

All the talk about swine flu has me thinking about numbers, and perspective:

– Hunger kills 24,000 people around the world every day, according to TheHungerSite.com

– Malaria kills 3,000 children every day, according to the World Health Organization

– Domestic violence kills three women in the U.S. every day, on average, according to the U.S. Department of Justice

– About 120 people die every death in vehicle accidents in the U.S., according to CDC stats.

And swine flu? It’s killed one person in the U.S. so far.

Of course, swine flu is worrisome (and you can read lots more about it in my previous posts, which contain lots of information from local Dr. Christopher Lillis). I don’t mean to minimize its significance, especially as  more cases appear.

But those old stories, about the need for mosquito nets and seat belts and more food, and the need to prevent domestic violence — it’s hard not to think about them, too.

On a totally unrelated note: I’m working on a story about what moms really want, from a health and peace-of-mind perspective, for Mother’s Day. So moms, if you have thoughts to share, I’d love to hear from you.

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