National Safety Council Statement on New CDC Data Showing a Rise in Accidental Death

News provided by

Nov 29, 2018, 16:16 ET

ITASCA, Ill., Nov. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Safety Council is grieving over the new CDC data showing the number of deaths from unintentional, preventable injuries – commonly known as "accidents" – rose 5.3 percent between 2016 and 2017. Preventable deaths have now reached their highest number in recorded U.S. history – 169,936. Of the three leading causes, preventable injuries was the only category to experience an increase, largely driven by the opioid crisis. An American is killed accidentally every three minutes – by a drug overdose, a motor vehicle crash, a fall, a drowning, a choking incident or another preventable occurrence.

NSC analysis of the unintentional, preventable injury data shows:

Type of Preventable Death	2016	2017	Change	Percent Change
Poisoning (including drug overdose)	58,335	64,795	6,460	11.10%
Motor-vehicle	40,327	40,231	-96	-0.20%
Falls	34,673	36,338	1,665	4.80%
Suffocation by ingestion, inhalation	4,829	5,216	387	8.00%
Drowning	3,786	3,709	-77	-2.00%
Fires, flames, smoke	2,730	2,812	82	3.00%
Mechanical suffocation	1,781	1,730	-51	-2.90%
Natural heat, cold	1,189	1,269	80	6.70%
Struck by, against	790	806	16	2.00%
Machinery	610	572	-38	-6.20%
Firearms	495	486	-9	-1.80%
Water transportation	492	466	-26	-5.30%
Rail transportation	421	439	18	4.30%
Air transportation	407	385	-22	-5.40%
Electric current	260	254	-6	-2.30%
Transport residual	1,401	1,503	102	7.30%
Nontransport residual	8,848	8,925	77	0.90%
Total	161,374	169,936	8,562	5.30%

For years, the United States has accepted unintentional injuries as an unavoidable reality. These data show us that our collective complacency costs us 466 lives every day. The truth is, there is no such thing as an accident. We know what to do to save lives, but as a nation, we have not consistently prioritized safety at work, at home and on the road.

If our country does not act, more people will die, and our fight to Stop Everyday Killers will become even more difficult.

About the National Safety Council
The National Safety Council (nsc.org) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to eliminate preventable deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the road through leadership, research, education and advocacy. Founded in 1913 and chartered by Congress, NSC advances this mission by partnering with businesses, government agencies, elected officials and the public in areas where we can make the most impact.

Connect with NSC:
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube

SOURCE National Safety Council