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Accidental Deaths Increasing at Alarming Rate
Poisonings, Overdoses Seeing Greatest Gains One Person Killed by an Accident Every Five Minutes Traffic Crashes and Falls Are Leading Risks in Minnesota (ST. PAUL, Minn., June 7, 2007) - Accidental deaths in the United States are rising at an alarming rate, more than 20 percent over a 10-year period, reaching 113,000 deaths in 2005, according to the latest data available. The National Safety Council (NSC) warns that at the current rate, the nation’s all-time high of 116,385 accidental deaths, set in 1969, could be surpassed in the next few years. According to data released today by the NSC to mark National Safety Month, motor vehicle crashes continue to be the leading cause of injury-related death in the country. Driver behaviors including speeding, distractions and impairment, as well as not wearing seatbelts, contribute significantly to motor vehicle injuries and fatalities. In Minnesota, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death, followed by falls and poisoning. Nationally, poisoning – particularly from overdoses of over-the-counter, prescription and illicit drugs – is now the fastest-rising cause of accidental death with a 5 percent increase last year alone. While the largest numerical increase in overdoses is among white men – up nearly 6,000 in 10 years – poisoning death rates are increasing the most among white women – up more than 300 percent over 10 years. Deaths from falls rank third, with choking and drowning rounding out the top five. These five leading causes account for 83 percent of all unintentional injury deaths. "Accidental death in America is a silent epidemic. With one person dying from an accident every five minutes, unintentional injury is one of the most serious public health issues facing Minnesota and the entire country," said Minnesota Safety Council President Carol Bufton. "Trauma from accidents follows only heart disease and cancer in national medical expenditures. For people between the ages of 18 and 64 with private health insurance, more is spent on medical care for trauma and poisoning than for any other health condition. The economic and social impact is substantial for families, communities, employers and the health care system." Injuries Increasing at Alarming Rate - 2 A state-by-state review shows that unintentional injury is the third-leading cause of death in Alaska, Arizona, Mississippi, New Mexico and the District of Columbia; it ranks fourth in 18 states, and sixth in Maine, Maryland, New Jersey and New York. In Minnesota, it is the fifth-leading cause of death. A full review of the state-by-state data can be found at http://www.nsc.org/news/injury_data.htm. Detailed information about injury in Minnesota is available on the Minnesota Safety Council Web site at http://www.minnesotasafetycouncil.org/facts/injuryfacts/06index.cfm. Another disturbing trend is the shift toward more accidental injuries and deaths occurring in and around the home. Since 1992, the death rate from injuries in home and community settings increased 30 percent. In fact, more than half of all injury-related deaths and 75 percent of all disabling injuries are occurring in our homes and communities. Conversely, over the same period of time, the death rate for workplace injuries has declined 17 percent and the death rate for motor vehicle collisions, while still unacceptably high, is down 16 percent. "Shifts in national demographics, changes in our workplaces, and a proliferation of mobile technologies are dramatically affecting the nature and scope of the country’s 21st century safety and health risks," said Bufton Unintentional injuries also accounted for more than 24 million nonfatal injuries in 2005, putting major stress on our nation’s health care system. The economic cost of all fatal and nonfatal injuries amounted to $625.5 billion nationally, or $5,500 per household. "Research shows that when it comes to safety, most Americans are more concerned about being the victim of a random act of violence than they are about being seriously injured in an accident," said Bufton. "The reality is that while we are at greater risk of experiencing an unintentional injury, we have greater control over managing those risks." The Minnesota Safety Council promotes National Safety Month as an opportunity to increase awareness of our risks of injury and to encourage people to come together to promote safe and healthy behaviors throughout the year. "The leading causes of unintentional injury and death in this state are all preventable," Bufton said. "We know from research that awareness plays a huge role in reducing the risk of injury and that changes in behavior and basic preventive measures can save lives. We also know from experience that by coming together – as safety leaders, government officials, employers, municipalities, community groups and individuals – we can reverse these disturbing trends and, by doing so, save billions of dollars and thousands of lives." ###
The Minnesota Safety Council, founded in 1928, is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in Minnesota by preventing unintentional injuries and deaths. It is a chapter of the National Safety Council. Additional Pages News Releases |
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