Drowning is second only to ________ as a leading preventable cause of death among children.

Drowning is indeed the second leading preventable cause of death among children, following motor vehicle accidents (MVAs). This statistic highlights the critical nature of safety measures around water and the importance of supervision to prevent drowning incidents. MVAs encompass a broad range of incidents, including car crashes involving children as passengers or pedestrians. The high frequency of these accidents makes them a significant concern for child safety, which is why they rank first among preventable causes of death.

Other options, while they do represent serious risks to children's safety, do not have the same statistical standing as MVAs in terms of leading preventable causes of death. Fire accidents, poisoning, and suicide are undeniably severe concerns, but the prevalence of MVAs makes them the most significant risk factor among the options provided. Understanding these statistics can help inform safety measures and preventive strategies aimed at reducing childhood fatalities.