The Top Four Causes of Accidental
Death After Auto Accidents
by www.SixWise.com
Every five minutes, someone in the United States is killed
by an accident, according to new research from The National
Safety Council (NSC). Overall, accidents are the fifth leading
cause of death, behind only heart disease, cancer, stroke
and chronic lower respiratory diseases.
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Increasing numbers of people are dying from accidental
overdoses on prescription, over-the-counter, and illegal
drugs.
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Yet, for people between the ages of 1 and 41, accidental
deaths are the leading cause of death in the nation, and they're
increasing at a greater rate than any of the other top causes
of death.
In just one 10-year period, accidental deaths increased over
20 percent, to more than 113,000 deaths in 2005, NSC found.
At this rate, the all-time record for accidental deaths, set
in 1969 with 116,385, will be surpassed within a few years.
"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
the country," said NSC President and CEO Alan McMillan.
"Our 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," McMillan said. "The reality is
that while we are at greater risk of experiencing an accidental
injury, we have greater control over managing those risks."
The obvious top cause of accidental deaths goes to automobile
accidents, with speeding, driver distractions and impairments,
and not wearing seatbelts among the top causes of motor vehicle
injuries and fatalities.
What are the next leading causes of accidental deaths?
1. Poisoning (Mostly from Drug Overdoses)
Deaths from poisoning, and specifically from overdoses of
over-the-counter (OTC), prescription
and illegal drugs, is the fastest rising cause of accidental
deaths. It rose 5 percent overall from 2006 to 2007, and increased
more than 300 percent among white women in the last decade.
You can protect your children from poisoning by making sure
these 10
common toxins are not in their reach. Using a secure lock
for your kitchen
cabinets and medicine
cabinet is another simple way to keep your kids safe.
Meanwhile, avoid overdosing on OTC drugs by:
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Making sure you don't exceed the maximum daily recommended
amount
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Reading the labels on all the drugs you are taking to
be sure you're not doubling, or tripling, up on common
drugs such as acetaminophen
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Following dosage information for children carefully,
as overdose can occur quickly
2. Falls
Deaths from falls rose from 16,257 in 2002 to 17,229 in 2003,
which is the most recent data available. Overall, the fall
death rate rose from 5.6 to 5.9 deaths per 100,000 people.
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What can you do to prevent
falls in your home (which is especially important if you
live with an elderly person, as falls among those over 65
rose 31 percent from 1999 to 2003):
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Pick up clutter from walkways.
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Remove tripping hazards like throw rugs and extension
cords.
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Block off stairways, windows or other dangerous areas
using The
Gateway® To Go. This is no ordinary gate: It uses
a patented, pressure mount system rated #1 by a leading
consumer reporting organization to keep infants, the elderly
or pets safely away from accident-prone areas.
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Put non-slip mats in your bathtub and on shower floors.
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Tack carpet corners and edges securely to the floor.
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Wipe up any spills immediately (wet surfaces are slippery!)
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Install handrails on both sides of your stairways, and
grab bars next to your toilet and in your bathtub/shower.
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Use corner guards to prevent serious head traumas that
can occur from falling against sharp corners of furniture.
You can get a 4-pack of Super
Soft Gel Corner Protectors for just $2.99, and they're
simple to install.
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Make sure you have adequate lighting throughout your
home, especially at night.
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Use a cane or walker if you have trouble walking or balancing.
3. Choking
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NSC reminds parents to never leave children unattended
around water, as drownings can happen in a pool, bathtub,
bucket, hot tub or even a toilet.
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Choking is a common cause of accidental death among infants
under 1 year old. To protect infants from choking:
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Avoid all foods that could get stuck in your child's
throat, such as popcorn, grapes, raisins, nuts, hard candies,
nuts, cut-up hotdogs, etc.
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Never let a child of any age eat or suck on anything
while lying down.
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Keep floors, tables and cabinet tops free from small
objects that could be swallowed (such as rings, small
batteries, coins, nails, deflated balloons, etc.).
Also, if you have children who are in middle school, be sure
they are not taking part in the now
trendy, and potentially deadly, choking game.
4. Drowning
Close to 3,000 people die from drowning every year, with
children 4 years old and younger at the highest risk. Most
drownings involving children happen when a child is left alone
in a bathtub or falls into a pool.
To prevent
drowning inside your home and elsewhere, NSC recommends:
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Never leaving a child alone near water: on the beach,
at a pool, or in the bathtub.
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Recognizing that kids don't drown only in pools. Bathtubs,
buckets, toilets, and hot tubs present drowning dangers
as well.
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Enrolling children over age 3 in swimming lessons taught
by qualified instructors.
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Always following posted safety precautions when visiting
water parks.
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Keeping an eye on your kids in public pools, as lifeguards
aren't babysitters.
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Always swimming with a buddy.
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Not diving into unknown bodies of water. Jump feet first
to avoid hitting your head on a shallow bottom.
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Never consuming alcohol when operating a boat.
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Always using approved personal flotation devices (life
jackets).
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Not underestimating the power of water. Even rivers and
lakes can have undertows.
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Always having a first-aid kit and emergency phone contacts
handy.
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Parents be trained
in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
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Sources
National
Safety Council
NSC.org:
Water Safety
MSNBC