Injury Prevention
Nonfatal, unintentional injuries are common across the country. According to the National Safety Council's Injury Facts, in 2022, 63 million (or 1 in 5) adults and children experienced preventable injuries. Not only did these incidents lead to approximately $1.2 billion in healthcare or lost work costs, they also led to more than 227,000 preventable deaths.
Injuries can happen at any time. The good news is you can prevent many of them. At Memorial Healthcare System, we’re dedicated to helping adults and children guard against preventable injuries as much as possible.
Nationwide Impact of Preventable Injuries
In the United States, preventable injuries are the third leading cause of death, behind heart disease and cancer. And these injuries are at an all-time high, having a 162 percent increase since 1992.
Additionally, deaths from preventable injuries increased across all major categories between 2021 and 2022. The major types of injury and their increases included the following:
- Home-related: 57%
- Motor-vehicle: 19%
- Public (non-work-related): 21%
- Work-related: 2%
The leading cause of death from preventable injury differs by age group.
- Motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause among teens and young adults.
- Poisoning — particularly opioid overdoses — impacts adults between ages 22 and 68 the most.
- Among older adults ages 68 to 84, falls are the greatest danger.
- Males account for 67 percent of all deaths from preventable injuries. They experience over 70 percent of all poisoning, motor vehicle, drowning and blunt-force deaths.
- Gender is not a factor when it comes to fall- and choking-related deaths.
Visit Injury Free Coalition for Kids and Safe Kids Worldwide for more information.
Preventable-Injury-Related Deaths in Florida
Florida ranks 13th nationwide for preventable-injury-related deaths, according to 2022 data from the National Safety Council.
Per 100,000 people, in 2022, the state reported the most deaths related to:
- Poisoning: 32.7
- Falls: 18.9
- Motor vehicles: 16.7
- Choking: 1.5
- All other: 7.1
Fall Prevention Checklist to Safeguard Your Health
Assess your risk of falling at home with this seven question checklist.
Top Preventable Injuries
In the United States, most deaths related to preventable injuries happen in eight main categories across all age groups:
- Poisoning: 43%
- Motor vehicle: 21%
- Fall: 21%
- Other: 8%
- Suffocation: 3%
- Drowning: 2%
- Fire/burn: 1%
- Natural/Environment: 1%
Visit the Safe Kids Worldwide Library page for details about how to help prevent childhood injuries.
