Accident Facts®

Deaths Due to Unintentional Injuries, 1997

Type of Event and Age of Victim

Notes
aDeaths per 100,000 population.
bDeaths per 100,000 population in each age group.
cChange less than 0.5%.


All Unintentional Injuries

The term "unintentional" covers most deaths from injury and poisoning. Excluded are homicides (including legal intervention), suicides, deaths for which none of these categories can be determined, and war deaths.

Total
Change from 1996
Death Ratea
Deaths
93,800
(c)
35.0

Deaths and Ratesb by Age Group
Age 0-4 5-14 15-24 25-44 45-64 65-74 75 +
Deaths 3,000 3,500 12,700 26,200 16,400 8,800 23,200
Death Rateb 15.7 9.0 34.7 31.3 29.6 47.6 148.9

Return to Menu


Motor-Vehicle Accidents

Includes deaths involving mechanically or electrically powered highway-transport vehicles in motion (except those on rails), both on and off the highway or street.

Total
Change from 1996
Death Ratea
Deaths
43,200
(c)
16.1

Deaths and Ratesb by Age Group

Age 0-4 5-14 15-24 25-44 45-64 65-74 75 +
Deaths 1,100 2,000 9,900 14,000 7,900 3,200 5,100
Death Rateb 5.7 5.2 27.1 16.7 14.2 17.3 32.7

Return to Menu


Falls

Includes deaths from falls from one level to another or on the same level. Excludes falls in or from transport vehicles, or while boarding or alighting from them.

Total
Change from 1996
Death Ratea
Deaths
14,900
+2%
5.6

Deaths and Ratesb by Age Group

Age 0-4 5-14 15-24 25-44 45-64 65-74 75 +
Deaths 70 80 250 1,000 1,500 1,900 10,100
Death Rateb 0.4 0.2 0.7 1.2 2.7 10.3 64.8

Return to Menu


Poisoning by Solids and Liquids

Includes deaths from drugs, medicines, mushrooms, and shellfish, as well as commonly recognized poisons. Excludes poisonings from spoiled foods, salmonella, etc., which are classified as disease deaths.

Total
Change from 1996
Death Ratea
Deaths
8,600
-3%
3.2

Deaths and Ratesb by Age Group

Age 0-4 5-14 15-24 25-44 45-64 65-74 75 +
Deaths 30 20 450 5,500 2,100 200 300
Death Rateb 0.2 0.1 1.2 6.6 3.8 1.1 1.9

Return to Menu


Drowning

Includes all drownings (work and nonwork) in boat accidents and those resulting from swimming, playing in the water, or falling in. Excludes drownings in floods and other cataclysms which are classified to the cataclysm.

Total
Change from 1996
Death Ratea
Deaths
4,000
-2%
1.5

Deaths and Ratesb by Age Group

Age 0-4 5-14 15-24 25-44 45-64 65-74 75 +
Deaths 600 450 600 1,200 550 300 300
Death Rateb 3.1 1.2 1.6 1.4 1.0 1.6 1.9

Return to Menu


Fires, Burns, and Deaths Associated with Fires

Includes deaths from fires, burns, and from injuries in conflagrations--such as asphyxiation, falls, and struck by falling objects. Excludes burns from hot objects or liquids.

Total
Change from 1996
Death Ratea
Deaths
3,700
+12%
1.4

Deaths and Ratesb by Age Group

Age 0-4 5-14 15-24 25-44 45-64 65-74 75 +
Deaths 450 250 250 700 700 500 850
Death Rateb 2.3 0.6 0.7 0.8 1.3 2.7 5.5

Return to Menu


Suffocation by Ingested Object

Includes deaths from unintentional ingestion or inhalation of food or other objects resulting in the obstruction of respiratory passages.

Total
Change from 1996
Death Ratea
Deaths
3,300
0%
1.2

Deaths and Ratesb by Age Group

Age 0-4 5-14 15-24 25-44 45-64 65-74 75 +
Deaths 140 60 50 250 550 450 1,800
Death Rateb 0.7 0.2 0.1 0.3 1.0 2.4 11.6

Return to Menu


Firearms

Includes unintentional deaths from firearms injuries principally in recreational activities or on home premises. Excludes deaths from explosive material or in war operations.

Total
Change from 1996
Death Ratea
Deaths
1,500
+15%
0.6

Deaths and Ratesb by Age Group

Age 0-4 5-14 15-24 25-44 45-64 65-74 75 +
Deaths 40 180 450 450 240 80 60
Death Rateb 0.2 0.5 1.2 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.4

Return to Menu


Poisoning by Gases and Vapors

Mostly carbon monoxide due to incomplete combustion, involving cooking and heating equipment and standing motor vehicles. Excludes deaths in conflagrations, or associated with transport vehicles in motion.

Total
Change from 1996
Death Ratea
Deaths
700
+17%
0.3

Deaths and Ratesb by Age Group

Age 0-4 5-14 15-24 25-44 45-64 65-74 75 +
Deaths 20 60 100 200 160 70 90
Death Rateb 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.6

Return to Menu


All Other Types

Most important types included are: medical and surgical complications and misadventures, machinery, air transport, water transport (except drownings), mechanical suffocation, and excessive cold.

Total
Change from 1996
Death Ratea
Deaths
13,900
-4%
5.2

Deaths and Ratesb by Age Group

Age 0-4 5-14 15-24 25-44 45-64 65-74 75 +
Deaths 550 400 650 2,900 2,700 2,100 4,600
Death Rateb 2.9 1.0 1.8 3.5 4.9 11.4 29.5

Table of Contents | Menu | Order Form | Statistics Top Page | Comments


September 25, 1998