Injuries are the leading cause of death for people ages 1-44 in Massachusetts and injuries are the third leading cause of death among all ages.
The overall impact of unintentional and preventable injury is more serious than we see in our communities and on the news. Millions of Americans are injured each year and are treated in hospital emergency rooms throughout the country.
In 2014, unintentional injuries accounted for 3 out of 4 (74%) of the 72,581 injury-related hospital stays, most of these injuries were predictable and therefore preventable.
For this reason, the UMass Memorial Health Injury Prevention Center is leading a coordinated effort to reduce injuries in the community we serve, guided by the belief that everyone should have access to accurate and up-to-date information and resources to live a healthier, safer life.
For more information or to sponsor one of our programs, please contact us at injuryprevention@umassmemorial.org.
The Burden of Injuries
- A majority of the unintentional injury hospital stays were due to falls (59%). Over two-thirds (71%) of these falls involved MA adults ages 65 and older. Injuries are the third leading cause of death among Massachusetts residents. They are also the leading cause of death among Massachusetts residents ages 1 to 44.
- In 2014, 3,689 Massachusetts residents died as a result of injuries, or 10 persons per day.
- 3 out of 4 injury deaths (78%) were due to unintentional injuries.
- More than 180,000 Americans die from preventable injuries each year—that’s one person every three minutes.
- More than $406 billion is spent annually on injury-related medical costs and lost productivity
- For those aged 5 to 34 in the United States, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death, claiming more than 18,000 lives each year
- Annually, more than 29.5 million people, or 55 every minute, are treated in emergency rooms as a result of injuries and violence.
(Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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