Friday, March 28, 2014

NSC Releases 2014 Edition of Injury Facts

This week, the National Safety Council (NSC) released the 2014 edition of Injury Facts®, which details up-to-date injury and fatality statistics and trends across the world.

By bringing together data from more than 30 different sources, Injury Facts provides safety and health managers with fast access to injury information as well as facts for benchmarking costs and creating safety programs.

According to NSC, “Injury Facts is a valuable tool to help leaders in business, government, public health, safety and the media understand that injury data are a necessary step to reducing injuries and fatalities and making our world safer for all.”


Among the more surprising statistics in the 2014 edition:
  1. Poisonings, including those from unintentional opioid prescription painkiller overdoses, were the leading cause of death in 18 states and Washington, D.C. The increase in fatalities corresponds with the national increase in deaths from drug poisonings, including those involving prescription painkillers.
  2. Cell phone use is now estimated to be involved in 26% of all motor vehicle crashes – up from the previous year.
  3. Nearly 5% of cell phone-related crashes involve texting, while 21% involve drivers talking on handheld or hands-free cell phones
  4. In 2012, the number of teen motor vehicle occupant deaths decreased, but motor vehicle crashes remain the Number 1 cause of death for teens.
  5. Unintentional injuries cost more than $790 billion annually
  6. The most costly lost-time workers’ compensation claims are those involving injuries to the head or central nervous system.
  7. The number of elder adult falls has risen 112% since 1999.
  8. Motor vehicle deaths in 2012 were at their lowest level in February and at their highest in July.
  9. The three-day period around New Year’s Day was the holiday period with the highest percentage of alcohol-impaired driving deaths.
Click here to access a free recording of a webinar addressing highlights from the 2014 edition of Injury Facts or visit www.nsc.org for more information.